The year 2023 is off to a flying start for the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). The body chaired by Brazil’s Ary S Graça has announced a record number of projects under its global development programme, Volleyball Empowerment. Launched in 2021, and financed by the FIVB to the tune of 4 million Swiss francs (4.04 million euros), the programme aims to support national projects, in particular by providing players and teams with the means to progress and reach the top level. For its first year (2021-2022), the body validated 94 projects in 68 countries. For 2022-2023, it has registered 137 projects, of which 121 have been approved. Of the initiatives approved, 33 were for coach training, 56 for the installation or modernisation of volleyball facilities, and 25 for knowledge transfer. As a bonus, seven new countries have joined the FIVB development programme for the 2022-2023 financial year: Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, Slovenia and Ukraine.
