Lausanne, Switzerland, 5 April 2002 – The Board of Administration and the FIVB Continental Confederations have given their full support to Dr. Ruben Acosta, President of the International Volleyball Federation to continue his successful presidency of the sport’s governing body.

‘In the name of the Board, the Confederations and all the National Federations, I hereby request that you continue your successful presidency,’ declared Mr. Wei Jizhong, President of the Asian Confederation at a dinner given in Lausanne on the occasion of the annual meeting of the FIVB Board of Administration.

‘Tonight I have received one of my greatest birthday gifts,’ replied Dr. Acosta to whom the Board Members of the FIVB also honored at the celebration for his 68th birthday.

Dr. Acosta had previously announced his decision to stand for a new four-year mandate at the next World Congress in Buenos Aires in September at the meeting of the FIVB Executive Committee in March.

The Mexican lawyer has now held the highest office of the FIVB for 18 years. He succeeded the founding president, Mr. Paul Libaud in 1984 in Los Angeles.

Mr. Adolf Ogi, twice former president of Switzerland, and the representatives of the Japanese companies Fuji TV and Mikasa who have had close relationships with the FIVB a number of years, were also among those invited to attend the Board of Administration dinner.

Mr. Ogi who is the current United Nations Special Advisor for Sport for Development of Peace also received a favorable response from FIVB for the support of his humanitarian mission. The FIVB Board meeting in Lausanne from 3- 5 April declared itself ready and willing to take action for the World Heath Organization Year of Physical Education, which started in April 2002.

Fédération Internationale de Volleyball – E-mail: press@fivb.org – Fax: +41-21 345 35 45