Lille, France, July 8, 2018 – The FIVB today announced that the USA will host the next three editions of the Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals, from 2019-2021, ensuring the continued success of the flagship competition.
The announcement was made during the 2018 VNL Finals in Lille by Grammy Award-winning DJ Duo NERVO, who were performing at the event, as the FIVB continues to deliver fan entertainment on and off the court.
Volleyball has grown significantly in the USA in recent years and is now one of the most popular sports in the country among young people. The VNL will benefit from this popularity and athletes will be guaranteed fantastic atmospheres generated by thousands of passionate and knowledgeable young fans. The USA is also the world’s largest sports market and a leading nation in sports entertainment, home to some of the most successful sporting franchises such as NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. The FIVB and USA Volleyball will leverage this expertise to deliver an unforgettable experience for fans of the VNL.
Speaking at the 2018 VNL Finals in Lille, FIVB President Ary S. Graça F° said:
"I am delighted that the USA will host one of our biggest and most talked about events. The USA is the biggest sports market in the world and presents significant commercial opportunities for our sport to grow and develop around the world. There are few countries which do sports presentation better than the USA, so I have no doubt they will be excellent partners for us.
"The VNL has, in its first year, inspired our volleyball family, bringing together younger generations to play the game and creating a global dialogue. The popularity of volleyball in the USA continues to grow, and after some phenomenal matches in 2018, we are already looking ahead and planning a fantastic event in 2019!"
As a new event in 2018, the VNL symbolises volleyball’s biggest revolution in the past decade, setting the standard for both athlete and fan experience. By using the latest innovations and cutting-edge technology, the FIVB has provided fans, both in the stadium and watching all over the world, with an immersive and engaging volleyball experience. Courtside DJs and dance moves that imitate volleyball movements have made fans part of the action, as well as helping to teach them more about the sport and providing entertainment during breaks in play.
USA Volleyball CEO Jamie Davis said:
"The United States is home to some of the world’s most successful sporting franchises. USA Volleyball’s partnership with the FIVB and the VNL will help us to put volleyball on par with these other sports, in terms of excitement, energy, professionalism and presentation.
"The popularity of volleyball continues to grow in the USA – it is the number one team participation sport for women and girls at high school and collegiate level, and the second-fastest growing boy’s high school sport, growing 15% over the last four years. Hosting the VNL Men’s Finals is a great privilege for USA Volleyball and I believe can be the tool for inspiring millions more young people to take part."
The FIVB has also partnered with Microsoft to launch the Volleyball App, which brings fans together from around the world, to watch highlights, read the latest news and discuss all the developments from each week in the VNL. The format of the event, competition rules and prize money are all equal, demonstrating the FIVB’s commitment to promoting gender equality.
In the first edition of the women’s VNL Finals, Team USA became inaugural champions after their exhilarating five set victory over Turkey last week.
The men’s USA team currently ranks second in the world and is reigning NORCECA champion after beating the Dominican Republic 3-0 on home soil in 2017. Three-time Olympic champion, the USA also claimed bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The dates and location for each VNL Finals from 2019 to 2021 are still to be decided and will be announced in due course.
About the FIVB: The FIVB is the governing body responsible for all forms of volleyball on a global level. Working closely with national federations and private enterprises, the FIVB aims to develop volleyball as a major world media and entertainment sport through world-class planning and organisation of competitions, marketing and development activities. The FIVB is part of the Olympic Movement, contributing to the success of the Olympic Games.
To find out more about the Volleyball Nations League, visit Volleyball.World.
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