Krzystof Ignaczak: The 2017 Club World Championships in Poland will be unique

- All around the world we are known as excellent organizers of the biggest sport events. It will be no different in this case - said the ambassador of the 2017 Club World Championship.

Volleyball is comming back home - that is how some people comment the fact that the most prestigious tournament in club volleyball will be held in Opole, Łódź and Kraków. Are they right?

Krzysztof Ignaczak, Ambassador of the 2017 Club World Championship: Of course they are right. In the last few weeks before the event I travelled around the world, visiting every participant of the tournament: I was in China, Argentina, Iran, Russia, Italy and Brazil. Everywhere I heard one sentence: “It's great that Poland gained the rights to host the Club World Championships, because like no one else in the world you know how to create beautiful events.”

The organization of the event is one thing, the fans are another.

Exactly! Polish fans have been recognized as the best in the world for a long time. They are known even in the most "exotic" locations on volleyball's map. Everyone heard about the unique atmosphere in our venues.

Do you think that the fans need to be encouraged to attend the 2017 Club World Championship?

I think that all volleyball fans are aware of the level presented by the Club World Championship's participants. This is the highest level of volleyball. You can't go any higher. The greatest stars of volleyball will come to Poland and among them are: Jenia Grebennikov, Tsvetan Sokolov, Theo Lopes, Matthew Anderson, Maxim Mihailov, Facundo Conte, Julien Lyneel, Mariusz Wlazły, Srecko Lisinac, Benjamin Toniutti, Paweł Zatorski… The list is very long and I certainly forgot to mention someone.

For instance Wilfredo Leon and Yoandry Leal…

Yes, I did it intentionally. They are like a "bonus" of the Club World Championship. In recent years - due to the grace period of both Cubans - fans couldn't watch them competing at the Olympic Games, World Championship or World League. And they are the players considered as the best of the best. Real icons - like Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of volleyball. You can't miss this chance. I believe that the Polish venues will be full to the last seat.

Let's talk about your role - how do you feel as an ambassador?

Excellent! For a couple of weeks it seems to me that I am an active volleyball player again. I travel all over the world, I talk with the best players, sometimes I hang out with them, I'm making pizza with Jenia Grebennikov, I'm having fun. And this way I have a chance to get to know the clubs and promote the 2017 Club World Championship. I regret it a bit that I didn't have an opportunity to sign a contract with a foreign club during my player's career.

How have you been received?

Very well. They liked our idea of visiting all the participants with a camera. This is the first such instance in the history of the major volleyball tournaments. Therefore, even bigger congratulations go to to the organizers of the 2017 Club World Championship for coming up with this valuable idea and I thank them for offering me this role. Additionally, my trips are a great promotion of Poland abroad - I've answered many questions related not only to the event, but also to our country. It's loud about us.

In the end, please be an impartial expert and tell us who will win the 2017 Club World Championship.

It's a very difficult question. I don't know! I saw how  these teams have worked and certainly Zenit Kazan and Sada Cruzeiro have the biggest potential. In recent editions, the Brazilians won, but they had an advantage of their own venue [CWC was held in Brazil - author's note]

Now, Sada will have a long trip to Poland ahead of them.

I asked their coach Marcelo Mendez about it. He said, smiling, that it doesn't matter. If his players are in good shape, the journey to another continent won't influence their performance. And let's not forget about Cucine Lube Cvitanova. The Italians have the strongest league in the world, so they are battle-hardened.

The 2017 Club World Championship in Poland...

...will be unique!