New Technology, High Expectations for Volleyball Federation

(ATR) The men’s volleyball world championship in Poland enters the second round Sep. 10, a 23-day tournament that FIVB president Ary Graça says will launch the sport into a new era.

"I think that volleyball in the future will be one of the best sports. Why? We have been the best in the London Olympic Games, mainly beach volleyball. Now we are going to have the Olympics Games in Brazil, which like Poland, is a country of volleyball," Graça told reporters prior to the opening match in Warsaw, a spectacle witnessed by a record-breaking 62,000 spectators at Poland’s Stadion Narodowy.

"It is going to be one of the best, most competent Games ever," Graça said referring to traditional and beach volleyball in Rio 2016. "People in Rio de Janeiro love beach volleyball, it is going to be the star of the Games."

Graça, who has been FIVB president since September 2012 and formerly head of the Brazilian Volleyball Federation explained his master plan to take volleyball into a new era. He said it involves a combination of bringing innovation and entertainment to the sport, developing the sport in non-traditional volleyball regions, and strengthening ties with the world’s media through a revised public relations strategy.

"I think there is a new era of volleyball," Graça said. "Volleyball is changing with innovation and opportunities."

"Our mentality is to give the public real entertainment – the match itself is entertainment, but it is not enough. We must give a big show to the public like what you will see tonight," Graça said about the contest, with a festive soccer-like atmosphere, and colorful, entertainment-driven opening ceremony.

Examples of innovation which the FIVB hopes will help to usher the new era include an in-game video challenge system implemented to mitigate incorrect calls by referees, an ingenious new net interwoven with LED lights, and a progressive social media and digital package.

The challenge system – similar to Hawkeye technology used in other judged sports – was tested early in the opening match, confirming an important Polish point which knotted the score at 7-7. Poland never trailed again in a three-set victory over Serbia.

A prototype LED net was on prominent display in the VIP area for FIVB guests and media attending the Warsaw match on August 30.

The innovative net –with LED lights incorporated into its strings – serves a dual role as a video screen to display graphics, team and player statistics, provide cool effects and naturally, advertisements.

Perhaps it may even revolutionize sport, let alone volleyball, as according to the FIVB, the LED net will mark the first time that digital technology will be incorporated into the field of play at a major international sport.

"This is trulya transformational move within sports presentations," said Graça.

Exactly how it will be utilized, potentially also to enhance competition such as displaying a countdown of seconds in which a player has to serve, is still to be determined.

"The athletes themselves are interested in anything that is going to help show off their performances," said FIVB consultant Michael Payne. "In the heart of action, we could enhance the presentation of the sport."

"This is a game-changer in how you deal with the field of play," Payne added.

No specific date or event has been given for the technology’s introduction into actual competition, however the volleyball president noted "in two years we will change everything with our new technology."

Additionally, the volleyball federation has launched a new application to enhance fans’ world championship experience as wellas an interactive social media wall on the FIVB website and high resolution 360-degree panoramic photos of game venues.

Graça is confident that these innovations can assist in elevating volleyball to a more prominent role in the world’s sporting landscape.

Participating nations have grown exponentially. For Beijing 2008, 31 countries attempted to qualify for the Games, while in London 2012 the number increased dramatically to 143. For Rio 2016, the number rose to 195. Also, 146 countries attempted to qualify for the world championship in Poland.

Volleyball World Champs Move Onward

Sixteen nations, trimmed from 24, enter Wednesday’s second round including tournament host Poland, three-time defending champion Brazil, 2012 Olympic gold medalist Russia and 2014 world league champion, the United States.

The 2014 championship marks the first time that Poland has ever hosted the men’s indoor world championship, which dates back to 1949. Seven Polish cities are hosting venues for the 103-game tournament.

Medal matches conclude the championship on September 21 at Spodek Arena in Katowice.

World Volleyball Championship to the U.S.?

Graca also advised that he recently returned from meetings in New York with NBC and the USOC, where preliminary discussions took place regarding bringing a future world championship event to the U.S.

"We are making a very big effort to go the United States," Graca said.

The men’s indoor volleyball world championship has been staged 18 times since 1949 and the women’s event also 18 times, but neither has ever been held in the U.S.

Written and reported in Warsaw by Brian Pinelli

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