Doug Beal Announces FIVB Presidentail Candidacy

Earlier today at a press conference in Los Angeles, California, one of volleyball’s long-time leaders and visionaries of the game Doug Beal announced his candidacy for the Presidency of FIVB, the International Volleyball Federation. Shortly after this announcement, Andrea Zorzi, former World Champion and international volleyball player and now leading volleyball journalist, had the opportunity to interview Doug Beal about his upcoming campaign and his goals for the future of volleyball.

This interview is available for free distribution and the details of the full interview are provided within this article. For more information about the interview please contact Andrea Zorzi at a.zorzi@kataklo.com and for all inquiries about Doug Beal’s FIVB Presidential campaign please contact the press office at info@dougbeal.org or Ms. Carla Hall – USA Volleyball at Carla.hall@usav.org , phone number +1 (719) 228-6800.

Interview with FIVB Presidential candidate Doug Beal:

Andrea Zorzi: You have been a strong force within volleyball for many years. What made you decide to run for FIVB President?

Doug Beal: Let me start by explaining my outlook of volleyball as a whole. I’ve been involved in volleyball my entire life. From player, turned coach and now as CEO of USA Volleyball, I’ve seen volleyball from every angle and I truly believe that our sport has the greatest potential for growth and expansion of any Olympic sport. And as a member of the board of administration of both FIVB and our confederation NORCECA, I have seen a strong development of volleyball and beach volleyball worldwide.

That said, I also believe that the greatness of this potential lies within our National Federations – creating winners starts at the core and my decision to run comes down to them. Volleyball needs a strong core to be successful and to win. By strengthening our National Federations I believe that volleyball will become stronger, and that together we can release their potential for success. And if there is one thing I know about it’s how to create winners.

AZ: If elected as FIVB President at the FIVB Congress this September, how will you use your experience as a coach in your new role?

DB: It’s not just about using my coaching experience - it’s about using all of my experiences from all the roles I’ve played over the years. Volleyball is an enormously popular and very significant international sport, and it needs a global leader who understands the needs and challenges our sport faces at all levels.

I strongly feel that my contributions to world volleyball as well as my experience in bringing success to my teams have prepared me for the FIVB Presidency and for the next chapter in our sports history.

AZ: You’ve mentioned your international experience. What are your plans for Volleyball worldwide?

DB: As I mentioned, my vision for the future of world volleyball starts with the foundation of the volleyball family – with our National Federations. Being so involved with different aspects of the sport, I hear what our National Federations want and for that reason I want to focus on four key areas: an inclusive management, an effective support system, a stronger game and to increase global promotion of both volleyball and beach volleyball.

This means giving our National Federations the opportunity to voice their opinions about our future, by opening communication channels and introducing new governance practices. I want to empower National Federations and give them the support they need to succeed. I also want to ensure that our game continues to grow and our sport continues to develop, always staying relevant and current with populations of all ages. My vision for the future is about reaching potential. There is so much that volleyball has to offer and I and want to bring a new perspective. It is volleyball’s time to shine and I’m committed to leading this winning team.

AZ: As a last question, is there anything else that you would like to add?

DB: Only to say that it has been a real privilege to work within volleyball. I’ve had so many positive experiences as well as challenges, but one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the impact our sport has within the world. I’ve been so very fortunate with my volleyball life, from the experiences I’ve had to the people I’ve met to the places I’ve visited.

I want to use that network to help drive the growth of FIVB and the sport to reach the next level. No sport is more diverse or played in a wider variety of conditions. It’s been a truly unique experience to be a part of this and I am committed to ensuring that volleyball sees an even stronger future.

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