FIVB, Volleyball World and RCS Sports & Events ready to welcome teams at VNL 2021 presented by ENIT – Italian National Tourist Board

The FIVB, Volleyball World and RCS Sports and Events will welcome 32 of the strongest national teams in the world to Rimini, Italy in just four days’ time as they prepare to compete for the prestigious Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2021 title. The women’s edition gets underway first on 25 May 2021 followed by the men’s edition on 28 May.

To ensure the health and wellbeing of all participants, the flagship annual volleyball competition will be organised in a safe and secure bubble. As such, organisers have created the Virtual Mix Zone to provide media with opportunities to interact and engage with players through interviews and press conferences. This will be facilitated through an innovative, digital platform which accredited media can access to join live post-match press conferences. While the accreditation system would normally close ten days before an event, an exception has been made for the VNL 2021 and the system will remain open until 6 pm CET on 22 May. Media can register via this link.

Over 140 media from across the world have already registered for the VNL 2021, and Volleyball World is ready to support and facilitate additional requests from media . Media will also be able to access match photos on the VNL website which can be used subject to providing credit to the Volleyball World for editorial pieces and tagging @volleyballworld in social media posts.

Valentina Vezzali, Italian government’s cabinet undersecretary in charge of sports, said:

“Italy is ready to welcome another great event to this spring full of sport. A "spring" not only climatic but also metaphorical, made of trust and hope. States of mind that sport can turn into emotions. Hosting such an important event is therefore not only a way to start "living" the sport, but also a real challenge on the logistical level and I am proud that this was understood by the organisers! I am sure that, in addition to the results on the court, Italy will win this challenge, sending a positive message to the world of sport, a few weeks before the start of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Good luck and long live sports!”

FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graca F° said:

“We are looking forward to welcoming some of the strongest national teams on the planet to the 2021 edition of our flagship annual event, the VNL. This will be an incredible opportunity for national teams to compete at the highest level in the lead up to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. I have no doubt that they will give their all on court and once again inspire fans worldwide with exhilarating volleyball action!”

Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor said:

“Volleyball World has worked closely with the FIVB, RCS Sports and Events and Italian authorities on the safe and secure organisation of the VNL 2021. We are excited to welcome teams from across the world to Rimini, Italy, where our incredible athletes can showcase why volleyball is a sport like no other.”

Meanwhile, RCS Sports and Events has announced La7 as the official Italian broadcaster for the event, along with an array of local partners, including: Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT) (Presenting Partner), Regione Emilia-Romagna (National Partner), Magniflex (National Partner), Nescafè LATTE (National Partner), BPER Banca (Official Bank), Toyota (Mobility Partner), FNM (National Supplier), Busforfun (National Supplier) and Visit Italy Web Radio (Official Web Radio).

In addition, the Rimini Expo Centre of the Italian Exhibition Group, a leader in fair industry with a special expertise in sports, has been chosen to host the event matches.

RCS Sports and Events CEO and General Manager Paolo Bellino said:

“The top women's and men's national teams will play the Volleyball Nations League, for the first time in a single venue. The "bubble" of Rimini, a choice made to minimise the risks for athletes and staff, will be the setting of great volleyball matches that will involve the best sixteen men's and women's national teams a few weeks before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics Games in Tokyo. An international event of great relevance that involves in its organisation the FIVB, Volleyball World, FIPAV and RCS Sports and Events, once again, that confirms our vocation and our maximum commitment to organising major events, perceived and recognised by the whole world of sport.

Regione Emilia-Romagna President, Stefano Bonaccini said:

“It's an honour for Emilia-Romagna to host an international competition of this prestige. It is an opportunity to reaffirm the extraordinary relationship between this region and sport, as evidenced by the calendar of events that we have hosted in recent months despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Events such as the return of Formula 1 in Imola, the Motogp in Misano, the two WTA and ATP tennis in Parma and Montechiarugolo, along with the Supercoppa and the Italian Cup final of football in Reggio Emilia, have showcased the great organisation and passion of Emilia-Romagna. Thanks to those who gave us confidence and maximum cooperation, we are ready to become the capital of volleyball.”

The Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT) President Giorgio Palmucci said:

“The phenomenon of sports tourism in our country fascinates and, above all, attracts foreign tourism which represents 50 per cent of the Italian market. The sporting experience involves dynamism, moving to destinations as a way of traveling and the visitor is therefore oriented towards increasingly engaging tourist offers that take him from being a tourist to enjoying tours as a guest.”

ENIT Director Giovanni Bastianelli said:

“The VNL is an international event which involves one of the most followed and popular sports in the world, volleyball. The 32 national teams that will compete in Rimini will help promote the whole region and it is one of the elements we are focusing on for the restart of tourism in Italy.

“This event will be organised at the highest level with international teams to attract interest from around the world. It will also help to restart sports tourism, a driving force for the region that creates a natural integration between the tourist and the local community, in addition to between the tourist and tourism sector involved.”

Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV) President Giuseppe Manfredi said:

“Finally, here we are! The great stars of the volleyball world are coming back onto the court and, of course, we are very happy that this will happen in Italy in the secure bubble organised in Rimini by the FIVB, Volleyball World and RCS Sports and Events. It has been a complicated period for everyone, with many difficulties that affected the daily lives of each of us, but we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and the organisational and economic commitment of the FIVB has been truly remarkable.

“I am sure that we will see very high-level matches during which, I hope, the Azzurri and the Azzurre can demonstrate their quality. A big good luck to all participating teams!”

2021 FIVB/VOLLEYBALL WORLD PARTNERS

GANTEN (Global Partner) // MIKASA (Official Supplier) // GERFLOR (Official Supplier) // SENOH (Official Supplier) // DB SCHENKER (Official Supporter) // ASICS (Official Supporter)

2021 VNL PARTNERS

ENIT - Italian National Tourist Board (Presenting Partner) // REGIONE EMILIA ROMAGNA (National Partner) // MAGNIFLEX (National Partner) // NESCAFE’ LATTE (National Partner) // BPER BANCA (Official Bank) // TOYOTA (Mobility Partner) // FNM (National Supplier) // BUSFORFUN (National Supplier) // VISIT ITALY WEB RADIO (Official Web Radio).