Volleyball World has announced that Empower Corporation, the operator of Japan's leading secondhand goods retailer, Kaitori Daikichi, is the title sponsor of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2024 in Fukuoka, Japan. The event will be known as the Kaitori Daikichi Volleyball Nations League 2024 Fukuoka.
The men’s competition is set to take place from the 4 to 9 June 2024 at the West Japan General Exhibition Centre, New Hall, whilst the women’s teams will compete from 11 to 16 June in the same venue.
The VNL is the world's premier elite volleyball tournament, with 16 of the world's top men's and women's teams competing in iconic cities around the globe each year for eight weeks. The VNL 2024 is particularly important as the FIVB Volleyball World Ranking at the end of the qualifying round of this tournament will determine the last national teams to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Twelve slots are available for the Paris Olympics after six countries, in addition to the host nation France, booked their tickets at the FIVB Paris Olympics Qualifier/Volleyball World Cup 2023, held in September and October of last year. The remaining five countries including the highest ranked team from Africa will be decided based on the world rankings at the end of the preliminary phase.
To date, in addition to the host nation France, the men's field includes Brazil, Canada, Germany, Poland, USA and Japan, who have qualified on their own for the first time in 16 years. In the women's competition, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Poland, Serbia, Türkiye and the USA have all qualified.
The VNL 2024 will be the last chance for the five remaining tickets to the Paris Olympics.
Finn Taylor, CEO of Volleyball World, said: "We are delighted to welcome Empower Inc. as the title sponsor of the Volleyball Nations League 2024 Fukuoka. This is the first title sponsorship in Japan since the VNL began and this support will make a significant contribution to the growth of volleyball in Japan, an important market for the sport. We look forward to hosting a memorable tournament for people around the world and showcasing international volleyball at its best."
Shunsuke Masui, President of Empower Inc., said: "We have a corporate philosophy of 'making everyone shine, creating the future together and changing common sense', and through VNL 2024 Fukuoka, we hope to make everyone involved shine, especially young people, and to be a force that helps them realise their dreams. This partnership will surely contribute to the further promotion and development of volleyball.
