FIVB Executive co-opted member Stav Jacobi (right) and Philippine Super Liga president Ramon Suzara at the signing ceremony for Philippines' hosting of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship
Manila, Philippines, May 8, 2016 – The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and Eventcourt have announced that the Philippine capital, Manila, will be the host of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship 2016, which will take place from October 18 to 23.
The secret was unveiled in Manila on Sunday after having considered numerous bid applications.
“This is a historic moment for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship and to break new ground with the Philippines is very pleasing,” FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° said. “The Philippines has a great tradition of hosting international women’s volleyball and now joins a long list of prestigious hosts of the FIVB’s signature women’s club event, providing a new opportunity for Philippine’s volleyball and its passionate fans to once again embrace international women’s volleyball and enjoy it.”
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The Philippines follows Brazil (1991, 1994), Italy (1992), Qatar (2010, 2011, 2012) and Switzerland (2013, 2014, 2015) as host countries of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.
This decision is undoubtedly of epic proportions for the Philippines, as this will be the first-ever World Championship in volleyball to be held in the country and will add to its impressive hosting portfolio, having previously been a host of the FIVB’s premier annual women’s volleyball competition - the World Grand Prix.
The FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship 2016 will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena, which has a seating capacity of 15,000.
Philippine Super Liga president Ramon Suzara knows that organising the Women’s Club World Championship is a big honour for his country.
“The 2016 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship will be one, if not the biggest, of the major international tournaments we will be hosting here in the Philippines,” Suzara said. “Therefore, we are going to build a special organisation team with Eventcourt in order to provide a tournament of historic proportions.
“Philippine volleyball is experiencing a renaissance. But our athletes have been participating at international competitions only lately. The FIVB, however, has been very supportive of our endeavours to make the Philippines a strong sporting country again.”
FIVB Executive co-opted member Stav Jacobi is confident that the Philippines is the perfect place to host the pinnacle of women’s volleyball club competitions.
“The FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship has become a tournament of impressive extent over the last year,” Jacobi said. “The three editions in Zurich, economic capital of Switzerland, took this prestigious tournament to a new level. I am convinced that Manila and the Philippines have the infrastructure and knowledge to build on the recent advances.”
The 2016 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship will also have many innovations. One of these changes will be the increase in the number of the participating teams.
For the first time in history, eight of the best teams in the world are going to play at the Women’s Club World Championship, split into two pools of four teams.
The organisers announced the first four participants, including South American champions Rexona Ades of Brazil, CEV Champions League winners Pomi Casalmaggiore of Italy, and Asian champions Bangkok Glass of Thailand.
Local volleyball fans, on the other hand, can look forward to the performance of the host nation’s All-Star team, which will comprise of stars from the Philippine Super Liga.
The additional four teams will be distributed via wild cards.