International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) decided, that this year’s World Cup – the first opportunity to get qualifications to the Olympic Games – will take place in Japan in term 4th of November – 4th of December. The women volleyball players will start as first. The tournament will start on the 4th and end on the 18th of November. Men will play on the 20th of November till the 4th of December.
- The FIVB supports the Japanese volleyball federation and all the country after the earthquake and the nuclear explosion – said the President of FIVB Jizhong Wei. – We have always had faith in solidarity of the volleyball family and the Japanese nation. FIVB cooperates with the Olympic environment, in order to support Japan, rebuild trust and help to return to the previous volleyball level. Especially the volleyball world offers its support to Japan in such a difficult moments – added.
- We are sure that the Japanese volleyball federation will host the next World Cup preserving the highest level of organization, as it is since 1977 – said vice-president of the FIVB Theofanis Tsiokris. – We received the assurance of the Japanese authorities, including the government representatives, that organization of the World Cup will perform on the highest level. We are glad that the Olympic qualifications will be organized in the country so delighted with volleyball-added.
- With this tournament we would like to maintain the tradition of the World Cup to be performer in Japan. It will be great opportunity for the Japanese nation, volleyball fans and the Japanese audience to recover after the unpleasant events that took place in our country at the the beginning of the year – said Masao Tachiki, President of the Japanese Volleyball Federation.
Since the earthquake in March and tsunami that took place in Japan, the FIVB representatives met with members of the Japanese Volleyball Federation for the first time on the 12th of April, after the decision that the Japanese Men’s National Team will perform all the World League matches abroad. Further proceedings and recovery of Japan assured the FIVB to maintain organization of the World Grand Prix and the World Cup in Japan.
Last Saturday, the authorities of the international volleyball federation confirmed that the second and third round of the World Grand Prix will take place in Kamaki and Tokio. The World Cup with 12 best women’s and men’s national teams will take place in Japan, in term 4th of November – 4th of December 2011. Except the host team we will see five champions of the continents, four vice-champions (according to FIVB ranking) and two teams with ‘wild cards’.
The National Team of the white-and-reds will fight for participation in the World Cup during the forthcoming European Championships in September. If the team will not be lucky in Czech Republic/Austria, it will have to rely on the goodwill of the FIVB authorities to get one of the two ‘wild cards’.