In a significant high-level meeting held in Beijing, China, Gao Zhidan, the Minister of the General Administration of Sport and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), extended a warm welcome to the FIVB delegation. The primary focus of their discussions was to explore the future advancement of volleyball within the country.
The FIVB delegation was spearheaded by President Fabio Azevedo and Michael Payne, who serves as the Chair of Volleyball World. Also attending the meeting were COC Secretary General Wu Jian, alongside representatives from the Chinese Volleyball Association (CVA), notably Vice President and Secretary General Lai Yawen, and Vice President Yuan Lei.
Discussions centered on several crucial areas aimed at strengthening the sport across the nation. These included the ongoing development of China’s national volleyball teams, the integration of volleyball into school curricula to foster increased youth participation, and exploring enhanced media distribution strategies to boost the sport’s overall visibility. Opportunities for China to host major international volleyball competitions were also given careful consideration.
The meeting proved to be highly productive, concluding with a shared understanding of clear next steps and a collective dedication from all parties to foster the sustained growth and success of volleyball in China.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood