Three-time Olympic volleyball champion Mireya Luis was one of six FIVB Athlete Ambassadors to try out new artistic installation

She was joined by legendary FIVB Athlete Ambassadors Giba (Olympic champion), Vladimir Grbić (Olympic champion), Madelein Meppelink (FIVB Athletes’ Commission President), Julius Brink (Olympic beach volleyball champion) and Louise Bawden (three-time Olympian)

Installations designed by Parisian-born and based designer Stéphane Ashpool in collaboration with the IOC

Against the backdrop of the Stade de France on the banks of the Saint-Denis canal, six FIVB Athlete Ambassadors unveiled a new artistic sports installation designed to bring people together to play sport.

In collaboration with local Parisian community designer Stephane Ashpool, three installations have been activated for the local population to engage with and practise volleyball, basketball and football.

A streetlamp has been transformed into a volleyball court and a basketball hoop, and a bench turned into a football goal.

The FIVB’s Athlete Ambassadors were in attendance to try out the volleyball court at the Jardin de L’Ecluse in Saint-Denis, a Parisian suburb with a youthful demographic and vibrant culture. With a magnificent view of the Stade de France, the installations will be accessible to the public throughout the Olympic Games.

Three-time Olympic volleyball champion and FIVB Executive Vice-President Mireya Luis was among those who demonstrated her expertise at the net.

Mireya Luis said: “It is very important to harness the power of sport and the Olympic Games to benefit the local populations and in particular young people.

“I was very impressed by this initiative and these artistic installations, and I hope they will allow more people to embrace sport.”

She was joined by Olympic champion and three-time world champion Giba, and Olympic champion Vladimir Grbić.

Also immersing themselves in the experience of the installations were FIVB Athletes’ Commission Chair and two-time European beach volleyball champion Madelein Meppelink, Olympic beach volleyball champion Julius Brink and Louise Bawden, a three-time Olympian in indoor and beach volleyball and a member of the FIVB Athletes’ Commission.

Vlad Grbić said: “It has been a highly fulfilling evening here, and very encouraging to see first-hand the impact these installations will have on the local community.

“I think it is a great initiative to have this accessible to the public during the Olympic Games.”

The Athlete Ambassadors’ attendance at the unveiling of the IOC’s Paris is Your Playground reinforces the FIVB’s commitment to engaging young people through the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with the Volleyball Experiences at the South Paris Arena and the Eiffel Tower Stadium continuing to prove extremely popular among fans.