FIVB Hosts Launch Event for New Volleyball Foundation

FIVB, the international federation for volleyball, launched its Volleyball Foundation last week in Lausanne with over $625,000 raised through donations and a charity auction to support projects around the world.

Piguet Auction House conducted the bidding with volleyball memorabilia donated by the FIVB and legends of the game. Featuring both online and live bidding, the auction raised $66,000. That amount, along with $335,000 from the FIVB, $127,000 from the CVC Foundation, and contributions from IOC Member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul and FIVB Board of Administration Member and Volleyball Australia President Craig Carracher, brought the total funds raised to $625,000.

“The Volleyball Foundation will play a vital role in promoting positive social values, helping to create a more collaborative and harmonious world,” FIVB and Volleyball Foundation President Ary Graça said. “The Foundation is dedicated to creating a world where everyone has access to sport, no matter their gender, age, background or position. Where they have the opportunity to be healthy and active. To experience the joys of volleyball. And to learn important skills that will serve them throughout their lives.”

The FIVB plans to allocate an annual budget of $1.2 million for the Volleyball Foundation in 2025 and 2026, pending the approval of the federation’s world congress later this year. The Foundation introduced two initial pilot projects: the Brahmaputra Volleyball League, a grassroots community league in Assam, India, involving over 10,000 children and the Githurai Kimbo Volleyball Academy, which offers youth in Nairobi, Kenya, a sanctuary through volleyball.

“Through this project, volleyball can really contribute to delivering the Olympic values and make the world a better place through sport,” said International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. “The IOC already works closely with the FIVB with Olympafrica and the Olympic Refuge Foundation and with this Foundation this excellent cooperation can be strengthened.”

Elizaveta Bracht, a two-time Olympic volleyball silver medalist from Russia, has been named as executive director of the foundation. Bracht represented her country more than 470 times from 1991 through 2004.

“I have had the privilege to work with the FIVB and Dr. Ary Graça for five years,” Association of Summer Olympic International Federations President Francesco Ricci Bitti said. “What he has done tonight through the Volleyball Foundation is to create an organisation for the grassroots, social and community benefit and this is very important. The Volleyball Foundation sets a model for others and I wish it every success.”