With boundless energy and speaking non-stop in three different languages Jean-Pierre Seppey, president of the new volleyball federation FIABVB, held the attention throughout the founding congress even though the room was full of people with whom he had fought bitterly during his time as secretary general of the FIVB.

The new international volleyball federation does not only face hard resistance from the old one, but must overcome challenges on the inside in order to present a real alternative, Play the Game’s director writes in this editorial comment.

In spite of continued manipulation with public information and many unanswered questions about corruption, it seems that the president of The International Volleyball Federation, Ruben Acosta, has gained some ground in his fight against the group of expelled or retired volleyball officials who call for founding an alternative volleyball federation in Copenhagen on 25-26 November.

A big part of the congress of the international volleyball federation (FIVB) was dedicated to an attack on FIVB’s former secretary general Jean-Pierre Seppey who served Acosta in the period 2001-2005 but now is appointed by the opposition group to spearhead its work.

The International Federation of Beach Volley and Volleyball Associations (FIABVB) has announced the dates for the 1st FIABVB friendship and solidarity congress where the founding of a new volleyball world federation to rival the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) will take place. It will take place in Denmark on 25-26 November 2006.

Critics of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) are moving forwards with plans for a new international volleyball federation. In late November a founding congress will take place in Copenhagen for the new federation whose main purpose is to clean up the FIVB and rid it of its current leadership.

The International Federation of Volleyball FIVB shall not give the UN the three million dollars cheque promised in January 2005 after the tsunami tragedy of Christmas 2004.

70 national volleyball federations support plans to reform the International Volleyball Federation and elect a new president, claims a newly formed committee to reflect on a new and more transparent international volleyball organisation. But reform seems elusive as the FIVB has just confirmed Ruben Acosta as the only candidate eligible to stand for election as president at the upcoming FIVB congress in Tokyo.