While athletes pushed their limits and celebrated regional pride at the recent Pacific Mini Games held in the picturesque setting of Palau, another significant activity was unfolding off the courts. The global governing body for volleyball, the FIVB, deployed its leadership team, headed by President Fabio Azevedo, to the island nation. Their mission: to use the opportunity of this gathering to engage directly with local and regional stakeholders and advance the strategic development of volleyball and beach volleyball across the Pacific.
A key focus was a direct meeting with the leadership of the Palau Volleyball Federation (PVF), led by its President, Hila Asanuma. Conveniently, President Asanuma also serves on the FIVB Board of Administration, providing a direct line, if you will, between global strategy and local realities. Discussions centered around the FIVB`s cornerstone initiative, the Volleyball Empowerment program. Palau has already been a beneficiary, receiving support across eleven projects, providing essential infrastructure like a dedicated volleyball floor, modern net systems, crucial coaching assistance, and equipment specifically for beach volleyball. It appears these foundational investments are paving the way for further growth.
Looking to the future, the federations explored the intriguing possibility of formalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to designate the existing beach volleyball venue as a potential Centre of Excellence. This concept aligns neatly with the FIVB`s Strategic Vision 2032, which emphasizes creating sustainable legacy infrastructure. A designated center could serve as a hub for training, development, and regional events. Demonstrating considerable ambition, the Palau Federation also expressed interest in hosting a future FIVB Board of Administration meeting, signaling their readiness to step onto a larger stage in global volleyball governance.
Beyond the formal meetings, the FIVB President also took time to engage with the Pacific Mini Games media team. He offered insights into the organization and execution of the volleyball and beach volleyball competitions, complimenting the venue preparations and noting the palpable local enthusiasm for the sport. More importantly, he reiterated the FIVB`s long-term commitment to supporting the growth of volleyball not just in Palau, but throughout the entire Pacific region. The emphasis was placed on sustainable development approaches and building local capacity – a recognition that true growth comes from within.
The visit culminated in a strategic meeting with the Oceania Volleyball Zonal Association (OVZA) and leaders from various other National Federations in the region. The FIVB delegation utilized this platform to present the core tenets of the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032. They also delved into the specifics of various components within the Volleyball Empowerment program, highlighting opportunities available through Olympic Solidarity, elaborating on the Centre of Excellence model, and explaining pathways such as the qualification system for the Youth Olympic Games – essentially, offering a menu of support options.
Not to be outdone, the OVZA presented its own strategic framework. Their priorities resonated strongly with global goals: improving governance structures, ensuring better integration with international development programs, focusing on athlete progression, enhancing high-performance coaching and refereeing standards, expanding competition opportunities, and strategically investing in education, marketing, and partnership building. The exchange solidified a shared understanding and a mutual commitment towards creating a unified and highly impactful future for volleyball across the diverse nations of Oceania. It seems the spirit of collaboration was as strong as the competitive one seen on the courts.
Marcus Blakely 
Wesley Dunham