POSTED: Tuesday December 16th 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

President Wei sure of British Volleyball teams in 2012 Olympics

FIVB President Wei certain of British participation in 2012 Olympic Volleyball & Beach Volleyball despite funding setback

Lausanne, December 16, 2008 - FIVB President Jizhong Wei said he is certain that British Volleyball and Beach Volleyball teams will compete at the London Olympics despite the British Volleyball Federation being left in limbo over its individual funding allocation leading up to 2012.

Volleyball and Beach Volleyball are among nine sports yet to have their budget confirmed for the London Olympics by UK Sport, the government organisation responsible for allocating funds to the 28 Olympic disciplines.

“The FIVB can guarantee that British Volleyball and Beach Volleyball teams will compete at the 2012 Games,” said President Wei. “The FIVB, within its regulations, will support the British Volleyball Federation as much as possible with this.”

In accordance with FIVB regulations, British Volleyball and Beach Volleyball teams are assured of an automatic place in each of the men’s and women’s Olympic Volleyball and Beach Volleyball tournaments.

UK Sport has committed to a basic level of funding for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball to be determined in January and distributed from the end of March 2009 and says it will work with the BVF to help identify further sources of funding.

British Volleyball Federation President Richard Callicott said, “The BVF is working very hard to encourage the government and UK Sport to give us the necessary allocation that will enable us to continue the wonderful progress we have so far made and to continue working with the players of the British Volleyball teams and programmes. The BVF believes it needs the same level of funding that it has had so far, if it is to continue to make that significant progress.”

FIVB President Wei, who has sent a letter to LOCOG Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe expressing his concerns over the lack of funding, said, “We appeal to the British government to invest in the development of Volleyball and Beach Volleyball players in Great Britain and I am convinced the British Volleyball Federation will receive support from their government.”

—ENDS—

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Keywords · FIVB · volleyball · Jizhong Wei · London 2012

Name: Richard Baker
Organization: FIVB
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