Bangkok, Thailand, October 23, 2019 – Volleyball Australia President Mr Craig Carracher has expressed his sincere gratitude to all that has given full support over the past six years for their relentless and successful advancement of volleyball and sustainable development of the game in global level.
In his thoughtful message that expresses his good feeling and appreciation, Mr Craig, himself AVC Executive Board Member and AVC Beach Volleyball Committee Chairman, explained how Volleyball Australia has felt for their engagement with FIVB and relationship with Asian Volleyball and Oceania Volleyball over the past six years.
“In this time Australia has rejoined the international hosting community staging two FIVB Men’s World League (Group 2) Finals and participating in the World League and VNL in each year since 2014. Australia has also hosted two FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Grand Prix Finals (Group 3) and participated from 2014-2017 in the Grand Prix for women,” said Mr Craig, Member of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Commission.
“Furthermore, Australia has hosted six FIVB World Tour events in this period including two Oceania Senior Beach Volleyball Championships and two Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships. Australia recently negotiated the inclusion of beach volleyball into the Commonwealth Games and hosted the first Commonwealth Games Beach Volleyball event on the Gold Coast last year. Following a monument success in hosting the Games, Oceania have captured four medals at these Games including bronze medals to Vanuatu and New Zealand and gold and silver to Australia and Canada.”
Australia has, according to Craig, been at the helm of the Asian Beach Volleyball Committee (as Chairman of the Committee) and for five years served Oceania as President of Oceania Volleyball introducing Oceania to FIVB again through strong advocacy and support for hosting major events in Oceania and growing the Pacific Islands so that they now deliver their own leadership in the market for world volleyball.
He continued by saying that on this journey Australia has worked closely with FIVB, Asian Volleyball Confederation, and the leaders of each other Confederation and many Zonal and National Volleyball Presidents.
He said Australia was blessed to be supported by USA Volleyball (through Lori Okimura as President), Canadian Volleyball, and was very closely supported by Vanuatu Volleyball President and New Zealand volleyball during this period of international focus.
“Australia would like to extend our thanks to our friends in world volleyball for assisting us to re-engage actively supporting changes in FIVB events including the VNL and now the program for the new World Tour strategy post Tokyo 2020 as well as working with the staff of FIVB and AVC very closely. Many trips to Lausanne, Bangkok and of course attending the World Championships and Olympic Games has been the privilege of Australian Volleyball over the past six years (albeit from a great distance).
“As we approach Tokyo 2020, we wish Japan every success. Australia is currently considering our bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games and we hope to make a positive announcement about that in the coming months. For now, as President of Volleyball Australia since 2013, I would like to personally thank all the Presidents that have hosted Australia on the beach and indoors during this period. Our teams have competed in 36 nations in this time and against more than 120 National Federations. Each of you have welcomed Australia and the Volleyroos into your country and into your hearts and we trust our teams and ambassadors have made our nation proud off the court and also by competing valiantly on the court. Our plan is to continue this level of activity with your support.
“Thank you for providing your support to the growth of our sport over the past six years and I wish you every success in your Olympic campaigns, your national campaigns and in the sport of volleyball.
“As a volleyballer for life, my commitment is to support our great game in any way we can from such a long distance away as Australia. We thank the President of FIVB, AVC and all Confederations and the FIVB Executive Board Members. These are very difficult jobs and it is always easy to criticise as we are all so passionate. Also, I am critical for change and improvement but I am thankful for the commitment and the passion.
“Good luck to you all, thank you to each of you for making volleyball so great and you are all welcome in Australia and in volleyball down under at any time.”
Related links of AVC
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: https://twitter.com/avcvolley
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation