LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 27, 2005 – The Life Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee, H.E. Marquis Juan Antonio Samaranch, attended the FIVB Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday 26 April. This visit came at the invitation of FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta, whose close ties of friendship with Mr. Samaranch go back many years. The visit by the former IOC President delighted the members of the Executive Committee, who have been meeting since 25 April to prepare recommendations for the FIVB Board of Administration (due to meet from April 29 to May 1).

Dr. Rubén Acosta expressed his heartfelt thanks to Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch for the latter’s tremendous commitment to the worldwide promotion of sport – and of Volleyball in particular – throughout his years at the helm of the IOC. “We will never forget how much you have contributed to the development of sport on all five continents, nor the wise advice you imparted to us throughout all these years! We are extremely grateful to you,” stated the President of the FIVB.

In response to these remarks, Mr. Samaranch noted that credit was due to President Acosta and his wife, Mrs. Malú Acosta, for their work in promoting a sport with so much promise for the future. “Volleyball has undergone a fantastic transformation over the past twenty-five years. I have always known that Volleyball was a universal sport whose appeal to the world’s youth would never cease to grow,” emphasised Mr. Samaranch.

For his part, Mr. Christopher Smith, President of the Beach Volleyball World Council, reminded those present that it was President Samaranch who, in Atlanta in 1996, opened the doors of the Olympic Games to Beach Volleyball. The extraordinary success enjoyed by the Olympic tournaments in Sydney and Athens, in 2000 and 2004, confirmed how enlightened President Samaranch’s vision had been.

H.E. Juan Antonio Samaranch left the FIVB Executive Committee meeting under thunderous applause.