The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will provide the FIVB with an opportunity to reach new fans
Lausanne, Switzerland, June 16, 2016 - The FIVB has vowed to light up the 2016 Olympic Games and create a carnival atmosphere in Rio with a range of exciting development and social activities, including a dedicated Volleyball House, as the federation looks to realise its vision of becoming the number one family sport entertainment in the world.
Tickets for volleyball and beach volleyball at Rio 2016 have been among the most sought after and, with unparalleled levels of innovation and fan engagement, the sport is set to be the signature event of the Rio Games as it returns to its spiritual home.
The FIVB is committed to leaving a lasting legacy away from the volleyball courts as well as on them. For the very first time the federation will have a dedicated Volleyball House at an Olympic Games. The House will be located right on Copacabana Beach and will provide an engaging environment for guests including Olympic and FIVB family members, commercial partners, government ministers and officials and broadcasters/media to come together and enjoy the Olympic volleyball experience.
Situated in front of the Volleyball House on Copacabana Beach will be six showcase beach volleyball courts, which will be open to the public and will offer daily activities for the entire family, including clinics with former Olympians, exhibition matches and contests. There will also be ‘blocos’ leading fans from the beach volleyball venue to the Volleyball House and showcase courts after the playing sessions as the FIVB looks to bring a taste of the Rio carnival spirit to the Olympic Games.
The Volleyball House will be located in a school, which the FIVB has funded the refurbishment of as part of its commitment to leave a sustainable legacy in Rio. The FIVB is also funding two Development Training Centres designed for kids from favela communities in Rio and these will be launched prior to the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. More than 600 children will participate in the programme and the FIVB will be supporting the centres with funding up until 2020 as part of its work to develop the sport at grassroots level.
The FIVB is refurbishing a local school for the Volleyball House as part of its sustainable legacy in Rio
FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° said: “Rio 2016 is a huge opportunity for the FIVB to showcase volleyball to the world in a way they have not seen it before. We want to provide more than just a sporting competition; we want to provide an entertaining spectacle for the entire family. Our goal is to create fans, not just spectators, and we are in a position to achieve this with the range of exciting extra activities planned. These activities are underpinned by our commitment to further develop the sport and introduce it to new audiences, encouraging and inspiring people in Brazil and all over the world to join the volleyball party and take up the sport.”