Volleyball World celebrates FIVB’s 78th anniversary

Today marks a historic milestone for the FIVB as it celebrates its 78th anniversary. Founded in 1947 by 14 founding nations, the FIVB has since grown into a truly global International Federation with 222 National Federations, while volleyball continues to flourish with over 800 million fans worldwide.

From Olympic debuts to global growth, including the creation of Volleyball World in 2021, the FIVB’s journey has been one of transformation, purpose and passion.

A historic legacy and a record-breaking year

Volleyball has come a long way since its beginning. The sport made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 1964, with beach volleyball joining the programme at Atlanta 1996. In 2024, volleyball marked 60 years since its Olympic debut with an unforgettable few weeks at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Meanwhile, beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower Stadium captured imaginations across the world, with over 450,000 fans filling the stands at what was described as “the greatest stadium on earth.” Indoors, South Paris Arena 1 was packed with energy as the world’s top athletes competed in front of capacity crowds, cementing volleyball’s reputation as one of the premier Olympic sports.

The 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) also achieved record-breaking success, with attendance up by 13% from 2023 and 33% from 2022, drawing 751,000 spectators during the pool phase alone. Read more about it here.

Launch of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation

In May 2024, the FIVB launched a transformative new initiative - the Volleyball Foundation. Its mission? To connect, serve and inspire global communities through volleyball to improve societies. From breaking a Guinness World Record and supporting transformative projects in India, to empowering impactful community projects in Kenya, Thailand and Qatar, the Foundation has already begun fulfilling this mission.

During the Olympic Games, over 300,000 people took part in the immersive Volleyball Experiences hosted by the FIVB and the Volleyball Foundation, offering fans the chance to play on professional court set-ups, serve simulators and interact with Olympic medallists and volleyball legends. Read more here.

Looking ahead: a landmark 2025

As the FIVB celebrates 78 years, the sport looks ahead to a landmark year in 2025. The VNL 2025 promises to unite fans worldwide in iconic cities starting 4 June. The Beach Pro Tour is already underway, featuring Olympic champions from Paris 2024, and this season will bring even greater global representation with new talents joining established stars. The Global Volleyball Movement can also look forward to three world championships this year:

• Men’s Volleyball World Championship – Philippines

• Women’s Volleyball World Championship - Thailand

• Beach Volleyball World Championships - Australia

An exciting future: FIVB Strategic Vision 2032

Led by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, the FIVB continues to build a sustainable and inclusive future for volleyball through the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032. This vision is centred around four key pillars: professionalism, integration, empowerment, and mass participation, all designed to strengthen volleyball’s foundations and broaden its reach.

“Volleyball is more than a sport - it’s a movement,” said FIVB President Fabio Azevedo. “Over the last 78 years, volleyball has grown into one of the world’s most beloved sports because of the values it represents: collaboration, integration, peace and solidarity.

“With the Strategic Vision 2032, we’re working to create a more professional, integrated and inclusive global ecosystem. Our aim is to double our fan base to 1.6 billion and empower National Federations, Zonal Associations and Continental Confederations to deliver strong, sustainable events.

The message is simple: we are stronger, together. Let’s shape the future - Together as One.”

FIVB Secretary General Hugh McCutcheon added; "As the FIVB celebrates its 78th anniversary, it’s a great moment to reflect on how far the Federation and our sport has come. The culmination of that journey to date was a fantastic 2024 where the VNL and the Olympic Games Paris 2024 set record breaking numbers and captivated fans from around the world. We are now shaping the future of our sport, with a clear focus on strengthening the Global Volleyball Movement at every level. Having been involved in volleyball as an athlete, a coach and now as FIVB Secretary General, I’ve seen its growth and development through many different lenses. Whilst we celebrate the last 78 years I believe that our best is yet to come. I consider it a privilege to be part of an organisation that continues to grow, evolve and invest in our sport so we can make the world better through volleyball."

Empowering athletes and communities

FIVB Athletes’ Commission President Louise Bawden added:

“We’ve entered a new era for volleyball. The FIVB continues to raise the bar - not just in competition but in how athletes are supported and included in the sport’s evolution.

From unforgettable Olympic experiences to new competitions and supporting the Volleyball Foundation, it’s clear that volleyball is creating opportunities for positive change at every level. We’re proud to be part of that journey.”

Volleyball has the power to bring people together and make the world a better place. The FIVB continues to ensure this - Together as One.