Volleyball World League
Encyclopedia
The FIVB World League is an international men's volleyball
competition. Created in 1990, it is the longest and richest of all the international events organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
(FIVB). The tournament is annual. The women's version of the competition is called FIVB World Grand Prix. In 2006, $20 million dollars in prize money were distributed amongst 16 participating teams from 5 continents. This event should not be confused with the other international volleyball competitions, the FIVB World Championship and the FIVB World Cup.
The World League was created in 1990 as part of the intensive marketing programme that would become a distinctive mark of the FIVB's activities near the end of the century. The idea was to promote the sport
of volleyball by establishing an annual competition that would appeal to audiences all over the world.
At that point, international competitions involving top volleyball teams (e.g., the Olympic Games
, the World Championship
) took place only in 4-year cycles, and were usually confined to a host city or nation. By contrast, the World League was designed to be played on a one-year basis, with a system of rotating cities that allowed every team to host a number of matches in the preliminary round. Further restrictions on participation, such as mandatory local broadcasting, ensured massive TV & media coverage.
The FIVB's strategy eventually proved visionary: at the turn of the century, the World League was fully consolidated as a major international volleyball event. Generous rewards in cash - from 1990 to 2004, the total sum spent on prize money jumped from $1 to $13 million dollars - compensated in the eyes of the national federations for the competition's relative lack of tradition and prestige.
Following the success of the World League, the FIVB launched a sister project in 1993 for women's volleyball, the Grand Prix. It was very effective in East Asia
, where this type of event has become tremendously popular, but its results in a worldwide scale still remain timid.
dominated the World League, winning the first three tournaments in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Playing at home, Brazil
, at the time the Olympic champions, managed to take the gold in 1993, but Italy regained the title in 1994 and 1995.
In 1996, foreshadowing what would happen just a couple of months later at the Atlanta Olympic Games
, the Netherlands
beat them in an extremely tight five-set match, before Italy once again won the gold in 1997. In 1998, the winner was Cuba
, while in 1999 and 2000 Italy won again.
As can be seen, Italy were clearly the dominant team in the first decade of the World League: from 1990 to 2000, the World League was played 11 times, and Italy took gold eight times, while the remaining three titles were won by three different teams.
Italy's supremacy in the World League began to wane in 2001, when Brazil won a second gold medal, beating the Italians in three straight sets. With further titles each year from 2003 to 2007, and winning another titles in 2009 and 2010, the Brazilians were the preeminent at the start of the 21st century, being also World and Olympic Champions. The interruptions to Brazil's dominance came in 2002, when Russia took the title, and in 2008, with the United States winning gold and gaining positive momentum going into the Beijing Olympics
.
and Italy
are the only teams that participated in all editions of the World League.
Notes
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Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
competition. Created in 1990, it is the longest and richest of all the international events organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball , commonly known by the acronym FIVB, is the international governing body for the sport of indoor, beach and grass volleyball.. Its headquarters are located in Lausanne, Switzerland and its current president is Wei Jizhong .- History :The FIVB was founded...
(FIVB). The tournament is annual. The women's version of the competition is called FIVB World Grand Prix. In 2006, $20 million dollars in prize money were distributed amongst 16 participating teams from 5 continents. This event should not be confused with the other international volleyball competitions, the FIVB World Championship and the FIVB World Cup.
Origins
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
of volleyball by establishing an annual competition that would appeal to audiences all over the world.
At that point, international competitions involving top volleyball teams (e.g., the Olympic Games
Volleyball at the Summer Olympics
Volleyball has been contested as an indoor sport at the Summer Olympic Games since 1964. Beach volleyball was introduced at the 1992 Games, and has been an official Olympic sport since 1996.-Origins:...
, the World Championship
Volleyball World Championship
The FIVB World Championship is an international men's and women's indoor volleyball competition. It is the oldest and most important of all the international events organized by the FIVB and must not be confused with the FIVB World Cup or the FIVB World League/FIVB World Grand Prix.-Origins:The...
) took place only in 4-year cycles, and were usually confined to a host city or nation. By contrast, the World League was designed to be played on a one-year basis, with a system of rotating cities that allowed every team to host a number of matches in the preliminary round. Further restrictions on participation, such as mandatory local broadcasting, ensured massive TV & media coverage.
The FIVB's strategy eventually proved visionary: at the turn of the century, the World League was fully consolidated as a major international volleyball event. Generous rewards in cash - from 1990 to 2004, the total sum spent on prize money jumped from $1 to $13 million dollars - compensated in the eyes of the national federations for the competition's relative lack of tradition and prestige.
Following the success of the World League, the FIVB launched a sister project in 1993 for women's volleyball, the Grand Prix. It was very effective in East Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, where this type of event has become tremendously popular, but its results in a worldwide scale still remain timid.
Winners
In the 1990s, the ItaliansItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
dominated the World League, winning the first three tournaments in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Playing at home, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, at the time the Olympic champions, managed to take the gold in 1993, but Italy regained the title in 1994 and 1995.
In 1996, foreshadowing what would happen just a couple of months later at the Atlanta Olympic Games
Volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics featured beach volleyball for the first time as the official Olympic sport.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-External links:*...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
beat them in an extremely tight five-set match, before Italy once again won the gold in 1997. In 1998, the winner was Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, while in 1999 and 2000 Italy won again.
As can be seen, Italy were clearly the dominant team in the first decade of the World League: from 1990 to 2000, the World League was played 11 times, and Italy took gold eight times, while the remaining three titles were won by three different teams.
Italy's supremacy in the World League began to wane in 2001, when Brazil won a second gold medal, beating the Italians in three straight sets. With further titles each year from 2003 to 2007, and winning another titles in 2009 and 2010, the Brazilians were the preeminent at the start of the 21st century, being also World and Olympic Champions. The interruptions to Brazil's dominance came in 2002, when Russia took the title, and in 2008, with the United States winning gold and gaining positive momentum going into the Beijing Olympics
Volleyball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Volleyball competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing were held from 9 to 24 August 2008. Indoor volleyball events were held at Capital Indoor Stadium and Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium...
.
Competition formula
The FIVB is constantly adapting the World League's competition formula to improve competitivity and to make the games more attractive to the audience. Nevertheless, a few basic rules and restrictions will probably remain unchanged in the following years.- Teams who participate must provide local media coverage and live TV broadcasting.
- The competition is divided in at least two phases: a preliminary round (usually called "Intercontinental Round"), with a system of rotating host cities; and one or more final rounds, with one or more host nations.
- In the preliminary round, teams are organized in pools. Each team plays a total of four matches against all other teams in its pool, two at home, two as visitors. Each pair of matches is played over a weekend.
- When all the matches of the preliminary round have been played, the top n teams in each pool qualify for the final round(s), and the remaining ones leave the competition. The value of n depends on the number of participating teams and the format that will be employed in the finals.
- Host nation(s) automatically qualify for the final round(s).
- The FIVB has tried various formats for the final round(s): Top Six, Top Four, Quarter-Semi-finals (Olympic format). For some years now (2004), the most commonly used is a mixed format: quarterfinalists are organized in two pools, and the top two teams in each pool play semifinals and finals according to the Olympic format.
- In the preliminary round, a team is usually given the right to work with a list of nineteen players, from which the coach builds the fourteen-player line-up included two liberos(if the team include only one libero in the roster, their max roster number is limited to 12) that will be employed in a particular weekend. For the final round(s), only fourteen players included two liberos are allowed.
Appearance
BrazilBrazil men's national volleyball team
The Brazil men's national volleyball team is the national team of Brazil. It is governed by the Confederação Brasileira de Voleibol and takes part in international volleyball competitions...
and Italy
Italy men's national volleyball team
The Italy men's national volleyball team is the volleyball national team of Italy. It dominated international volleyball competitions in the 1990s and early 2000s, by winning three World Championships in a row , six European Championships, one World Cup and eight World League The Italy men's...
are the only teams that participated in all editions of the World League.
| Team | App. | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 1990 | 2011 | |
| 22 | 1990 | 2011 | |
| 21 | 1991 | 2011 | |
| * | 20 | 1990 | 2011 |
| 18 | 1990 | 2011 | |
| 16 | 1990 | 2011 | |
| 16 | 1990 | 2010 | |
| 14 | 1990 | 2011 | |
| 14 | 1990 | 2010 | |
| 14 | 1994 | 2011 | |
| ** | 14 | 1997 | 2011 |
| 14 | 1998 | 2011 | |
| 13 | 1991 | 2011 | |
| 13 | 1996 | 2011 | |
| 11 | 1995 | 2008 | |
| 10 | 1993 | 2005 | |
| 8 | 1999 | 2011 | |
| 8 | 1992 | 2011 | |
| 7 | 1993 | 2011 | |
| 6 | 2001 | 2009 | |
| 5 | 1991 | 2007 | |
| 4 | 2006 | 2010 | |
| 1 | 1999 | 1999 | |
| 1 | 2003 | 2003 | |
| 1 | 2011 | 2011 |
- *: Russia's total includes appearances as and .
- **: Serbia's total includes appearances as and .
Results
| Year | Host | Final | 3rd place match | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions | Score | Runners-up | 3rd place | Score | 4th place | ||
| 1990 Details |
 Osaka Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe... |
3–0 | 3–1 | ||||
| 1991 Details |
 Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
3–0 | 3–1 | ||||
| 1992 Details |
Genoa Genoa Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria.... |
3–1 | 3–1 | ||||
| 1993 Details |
 São Paulo São Paulo São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among... |
3–0 | 3–0 | ||||
| 1994 Details |
Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
3–0 | 3–2 | ||||
| 1995 Details |
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th... |
3–1 | 3–2 | ||||
| 1996 Details |
 Rotterdam Rotterdam Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre... |
3–2 | 3–2 | ||||
| 1997 Details |
 Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... |
3–0 | 3–0 | ||||
| 1998 Details |
Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
||||||
| 1999 Details |
 Mar del Plata Mar del Plata Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"... |
3–1 | 3–1 | ||||
| 2000 Details |
Rotterdam Rotterdam Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre... |
3–2 | 3–0 | ||||
| 2001 Details |
 Katowice Katowice Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2... |
3–0 | 3–0 | ||||
| 2002 Details |
Belo Horizonte Belo Horizonte Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country... |
3–1 | 3–1 | ||||
| 2003 Details |
 Madrid Madrid Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan... |
3–2 | 3–1 | ||||
| 2004 Details |
Rome Rome Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half... |
3–1 | 3–0 | ||||
| 2005 Details |
 Belgrade Belgrade Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe... |
3–1 | 3–2 | ||||
| 2006 Details |
Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... |
3–2 | 3–0 | ||||
| 2007 Details |
Katowice Katowice Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2... |
3–1 | 3–1 | ||||
| 2008 Details |
Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th... |
3–1 | 3–1 | ||||
| 2009 Details |
 Belgrade Belgrade Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe... |
3–2 | 3–0 | ||||
| 2010 Details |
Córdoba Córdoba, Argentina Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with... |
3–1 | 3–2 | ||||
| 2011 Details |
Gdańsk Gdansk Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the... / Sopot Sopot Sopot is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000.... |
3–2 | 3–0 | ||||
| 2012 Details 2012 FIVB World League The 2012 FIVB World League, which is a men's volleyball competition, will be played by 16 countries from May 25 to July 8, 2012.-Qualification:Qualified teams:... |
 Sofia Sofia Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated... |
||||||
Notes
Medals summary
| 1 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 16 | |
| 2 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 13 | |
| 3 | * | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
| 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |
| 7 | ^ | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 22 | 22 | 22 | 66 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MVP by edition
- 1990 – – Andrea ZorziAndrea ZorziAndrea Zorzi is a former Italian volleyball player, who won two World Championships with the Italy men's national volleyball team . A 201 cm athlete, Zorzi was en effective spiker playing usually as opposite hitter...
- 1991 – – Andrea ZorziAndrea ZorziAndrea Zorzi is a former Italian volleyball player, who won two World Championships with the Italy men's national volleyball team . A 201 cm athlete, Zorzi was en effective spiker playing usually as opposite hitter...
- 1992 – – Lorenzo BernardiLorenzo BernardiLorenzo Bernardi is an Italian volleyball player who was twice World champion with his national team in 1990 and 1994, and was elected "Volleyball Player of the Century" in 2001.-Career:...
- 1993 – – Giovane GavioGiovane GavioGiovane Farinazzo Gavio is a retired Brazilian volleyball coach and former player, who was a member of the Brazil men's national volleyball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain by defeating The Netherlands in the final.Playing as an outside hitter, Gavio...
- 1994 – – Andrea GianiAndrea GianiAndrea Giani is an Italian coach and retired volleyball player who scored notable successes in the 1990s, winning three World Championships with his national team. He is 196 cm tall.-Career:...
- 1995 – – Dmitriy Fomin
- 1996 – – Lorenzo BernardiLorenzo BernardiLorenzo Bernardi is an Italian volleyball player who was twice World champion with his national team in 1990 and 1994, and was elected "Volleyball Player of the Century" in 2001.-Career:...
- 1997 – – Guido GörtzenGuido GörtzenGuido Görtzen is a volleyball player from the Netherlands, who represented his native country in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. There he won the gold medal with the Dutch Men's National Team by defeating archrivals Italy in the final .-References:...
- 1998 – – Oswaldo Hernández
- 1999 – – Oswaldo Hernández
- 2000 – – Andrea SartorettiAndrea SartorettiAndrea Sartoretti is an Italian volleyball player.Sartoretti was born in Santa Lucia and debuted in the Italian Serie in 1991, winning the Award as best Under 23 player. A 1.94 cm athlete, he plays opposite hitter...
- 2001 – – Ivan MiljkovićIvan MiljkovicIvan Miljković is a Serbian volleyball player, whose first club was Student Niš. He started his professional career in Partizan Belgrade in 1997 and currently playing for Fenerbahçe Grundig in Turkey...
- 2002 – – Ivan MiljkovićIvan MiljkovicIvan Miljković is a Serbian volleyball player, whose first club was Student Niš. He started his professional career in Partizan Belgrade in 1997 and currently playing for Fenerbahçe Grundig in Turkey...
- 2003 – – Ivan MiljkovićIvan MiljkovicIvan Miljković is a Serbian volleyball player, whose first club was Student Niš. He started his professional career in Partizan Belgrade in 1997 and currently playing for Fenerbahçe Grundig in Turkey...
- 2004 – – Andrea SartorettiAndrea SartorettiAndrea Sartoretti is an Italian volleyball player.Sartoretti was born in Santa Lucia and debuted in the Italian Serie in 1991, winning the Award as best Under 23 player. A 1.94 cm athlete, he plays opposite hitter...
- 2005 – – Ivan MiljkovićIvan MiljkovicIvan Miljković is a Serbian volleyball player, whose first club was Student Niš. He started his professional career in Partizan Belgrade in 1997 and currently playing for Fenerbahçe Grundig in Turkey...
- 2006 – – Gilberto Godoy Filho
- 2007 – – Ricardo Garcia
- 2008 – – Lloy BallLloy BallLloy James Ball is an American volleyball player who represented the United States men's national volleyball team in four Olympics team competitions...
- 2009 – – Sérgio Dutra SantosSérgio Dutra SantosSérgio Dutra Santos, known as Serginho or Escadinha , is a Brazilian professional volleyball player who plays in the libero position...
- 2010 – – Murilo EndresMurilo EndresMurilo Endres is a Brazilian volleyball player.-Career:With Brazil national team he won five World Leagues , one World Cup and two World Championships . He is the MVP of 2010 WCH and 2010 WL...
- 2011 – – Maxim MikhaylovMaxim MikhaylovMaxim Mikhaylov is a volleyball player from Russia. He lived in Yaroslavich, all through his childhood and teenage years.-Career:...
|}
See also
- FIVB World Grand Prix
- Volleyball World ChampionshipVolleyball World ChampionshipThe FIVB World Championship is an international men's and women's indoor volleyball competition. It is the oldest and most important of all the international events organized by the FIVB and must not be confused with the FIVB World Cup or the FIVB World League/FIVB World Grand Prix.-Origins:The...
- Volleyball World CupVolleyball World CupThe FIVB World Cup is a men's and women's volleyball competition. Created in 1965 and 1973 , it is an international qualification event for the Olympic Games...
- List of indoor volleyball world title winners
External links
- 2011 FIVB World League at the FIVB.org