FIVB President Graça visits Olympians Reunion Centre Opening Ceremony

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 4, 2016 - FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° visited the opening of the Olympians Reunion Centre, the meeting place for Olympians of all ages, sports and nationalities at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

At the Opening Ceremony President Graça met with the World Olympians Association (WOA) Patron HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and WOA President and four-time Olympian Joël Bouzou and used this opportunity to invite them not only to attend the volleyball and beach volleyball matches but also play beach volleyball at the Copacabana courts in front of the Volleyball House, the FIVB business hospitality venue.  Prince Albert jokingly replied that he would only play under the condition President Graça played also. 

Copa Courts

After the opening the President said: “The idea to have the Olympians Reunion Center during Rio 2016 Olympic Games is great especially as it is situated in such an iconic place as the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo on the shores of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Olympians are the role models for thousands of athletes who have arrived to Rio in the pursuit of their dreams to become Olympic Champions. 

“We at the FIVB do our best to ensure the athletes have the necessary environment to deliver their best at the competitions, as well as work hard to ensure our Olympians use their knowledge and experience in the future as the FIVB has created its own Athletes’ Commission and the Athlete Career Programme to formalise the long-term and loyal relations with our global network of athletes”