FIVB supports global volleyball 2025 strategy

Volleyball’s global governing body is embracing a transformative vision that stretches beyond the court. With educational plans, humanitarian projects, and huge renewal this year, the sport hopes to cement its role as both a catalyst for social change and a driving force in athletic development.

In its annual meeting last Tuesday, the first under new president Fabio Azevedo, an ambitious action plan for 2025 was laid out, built upon the Strategic Vision 2032 and its three core pillars: knowledge transfer, sustainability, and social responsibility.

The hybrid-format meeting provided a platform to assess the progress made in 2024 while mapping out volleyball’s continued expansion in the coming year. Azevedo stressed the importance of working under the motto 'Together as One', bringing out that the sport’s expansion should not be measured solely by the number of players but by its social impact, accessibility, and commitment to sustainable development.

Mushtaque Mohammed, President of the Development Commission, underscored the commission’s vital role in driving the evolution of volleyball, affirming that their work would be instrumental in bringing the FIVB’s long-term strategy to life. "This marks the beginning of a new era, one with a clear vision: together, we will create a lasting and positive impact through sport," he declared.

The meeting addressed a wide range of key topics essential to volleyball’s expansion, from strengthening training programmes and coach development to advancing humanitarian initiatives and enhancing national federations. Recent successes were also highlighted, such as the Paris 2024 Volleyball Experiences, which introduced the sport to over 300,000 fans during the Olympic Games.

The numbers from 2024 reflect a surge in growth: More than 42,000 people took part in the FIVB’s e-learning platform, accumulating a breathtaking 11,300 hours of training. Additionally, 87 coaching courses were delivered, equipping 2,756 coaches with new skills to elevate volleyball in their respective countries.

Looking ahead to 2025, the FIVB is set to intensify its efforts to consolidate these achievements and expand volleyball into new territories. The classification and membership structure of National Federations will be pivotal in strengthening the sport’s infrastructure on a global scale, while access to training and education will remain a top priority. 

Volleyball's expansion through inclusion, innovation, and accessibility was reaffirmed by the FIVB Development Commission. Taking into account its clear vision stretching towards 2032, the challenge is to make the discipline an even more universal, accessible, and socially impactful sport. Because, as Azevedo aptly put it, "The true growth of volleyball isn’t just measured by what happens on the court, but by its power to change lives."