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“THE BEAUTY OF SOLIDARITY IN SPORT ” When we started dreaming about creating a new organization for our sports, Volleyball and Beach Volleyball, to my big surprise, two subjects stood out at our founding congress in Copenhagen. They were not politics, finances, media or mammoth international competitions. These were rather simple and more fundamentally the role of athletes within our sport family as well as the importance of making space for non professional players with all the respect they deserve. We are delighted to match our words with actions by inviting two top players to join our executive staff, Florian Urfer and Alain Denguessi. This is a strong sign in line with Olympic policies led by IOC President Jacques Rogge which state that sport can no longer be governed and developed by a hierarchy of privileged managers. Thanks to these principles our programs are anchored in the daily life of those who make sacrifices and give their all to practice and honor their passion. In addition to this symbol, our in-depth work aims at convincing and supporting the newly affiliated Associations to invest more energy in the grassroots of our sports. These are the school children whose interest in Volleyball and Beach Volleyball is on the increase. These are the young girls and the confirmed female players who have brought Volleyball to the limelight of women’s team sports. And particularly - what is for me a lifelong commitment - to promote growth of disabled sport and to bridge the gaps between handicapped and wholesome players. With the senior top players, Paralympic athletes, the youth, professional and amateur players, the WVBF (World Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Federation) offers a home for everyone. For not only the stars deserve the attention and the media, the possibility to play in adequate and modern facilities, the support of a real federation and the benefit, in the full sense of its meaning, of this link, this partnership which brings us together reassuring us that we are not alone. This common denominator simply called: Volleyball. Jean-Pierre Seppey WVBF President |