IOC Issues Plea for Jailed Volleyball Spectator

(ATR) The president of the International Volleyball Federation says the IOC is lobbying on behalf of a jailed British-Iranian woman who attempted to enter a men’s volleyball match.

Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, was taken into custody in June after leading a group of women’s rights advocates to a match between Iran and Italy at Azadi Stadium in Iran. Women are prohibited from attending sporting events where men are present in the country.

"We’re not offending the culture. We’re offending the religion, and we’re not offending the government," said FIVB president Ary Graca on the sidelines of the FIVB Women’s World Championship in Milan. "The girl hasn’t done anything. That’s why it’s not really politics. In that case, it’s a kind of humanism."

Her trial is set to begin on Tuesday, and FIVB president Ary Graca said Sunday that in addition to the letter he has written to Iran President Hassan Rouhani in support of Ghavami, the IOC and president Thomas Bach has done the same.

"We’re together in this," said Graca.

Ghavami is a law graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Prosecutors in Iran say she is not facing charges for the stadium visit. Instead, she has been accused of "propaganda against the regime."

Rouhani was met with protests during a visit to New York last month, and David Cameron, the prime minister of Great Britain, broached the matter when he and Rouhani met last month.

U.S. Captures First Women’s World Championship

After finishing runner-up twice, the United States captured its first women’s volleyball world championship on Sunday night in Milan.

The U.S. defeated China, three games to one, in the final at Mediolanum Forum. The best prior finish for the team was second in 1967 and 2002.

"We were due," said a relieved U.S. coach Karch Kiraly afterward.

"I didn’t know if it would be 100 years now or today, but I always said we were going to win one of these."

China fell short in its quest for a third women’s title. They previously won back-to-back tournaments in 1982 and 1986.

Earlier in the evening, Brazil toppled host Italy for third place. No host country has won the women’s title since Japan in 1967.

The loss for Italy came despite raucous support from the home crowd during both Sunday’s match and the semifinal loss to China on Saturday. Italy fell behind Brazil two games to none on Sunday before winning two to force a fifth game. The capacity crowd at Mediolanum Forum roared with each Italian score, blowing noisemakers and banging thundersticks.

The match capped a 20-day tournament that included 24 teams and took place in six cities in Italy. The 2018 FIVB Women’s World Championship will be played in Japan, who hosts for a fifth time.

Written by Nick Devlin.

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