Olympic and Global Volleyball Movements united in supporting athletes both on and beyond the court
IOC President Kirsty Coventry today visited the Volleyball House in Lausanne, Switzerland to celebrate the closing of the first-ever Beyond the Court programme – an initiative launched by the FIVB to help guide volleyball and beach volleyball players as they transition from elite competition into new professional careers.
The special gathering brought together the 14 athletes from the inaugural edition, who warmly welcomed President Coventry to mark the conclusion of an inspiring week of learning, connection and shared experiences.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Olympic volleyball player Sanja Malagurski from Serbia reflected on the transformative nature of the programme, highlighting how much the athletes had learnt and grown together.
Malagurski also presented IOC President Coventry with a personalised Toblerone on behalf of the athletes – the same gift that each athlete had received at the start of the course – symbolising their shared journeys as athletes.
Meanwhile, in another special moment, French Olympians Christina Bauer and Youssef Krou presented President Coventry with a painting of the Eiffel Tower Stadium, the Paris 2024 beach volleyball venue, on behalf of the Global Volleyball Movement.
President Coventry also joined the athletes for a group huddle, where she spoke about the importance of athletes and organisations continuing to evolve and grow. She highlighted that athletes have a unique opportunity to harness the power of their experiences – to benefit themselves, give back to sport, and inspire the next generation.
Earlier in the day, President Coventry met with FIVB President Fabio Azevedo to discuss shared priorities and continued collaboration between the Olympic and Global Volleyball Movements.
The occasion also marked another important milestone: the signing of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo and all participating athletes – a united commitment by volleyball and the wider sports community to take meaningful action in addressing the global climate crisis.
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