The FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) was born in 1947 when the representatives of Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay, USA and Yugoslavia met in Paris, where the headquarters were established.
The Federation had as main goal to promote volleyball game worldwide, fixing the rules and organizing international competitions.
The first World Championships were organized in 1949 for men and 1952 for women. The world competitions immediately generated enthusiasm, and the number of players and National Federations affiliated with the FIVB grew by leaps and bounds.
In 1996, at the Atlanta Games, Beach Volleyball, one of the world's fastest-growing sports, made its Olympic debut as Volleyball's successful second discipline.
In 1984, President Paul Libaud, by then in his 80s and highly acclaimed for having founded the Federation and making it a significant reality on the world sports stage, resigned after 37 years of leadership. The FIVB moved its headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland, bringing it closer to the International Olympic Committee.
Today, the Federation counts 220 affiliated National Federations including 53 in Africa, 65 in Asia, 56 in Europe, 34 in NORCECA and 12 in South America. It governs, manages and promotes all forms of Volleyball and Beach Volleyball worldwide through tournaments such as the FIVB World Championships, FIVB World League, FIVB World Grand Prix, SWATCH FIVB World Tour, FIVB World Cup, FIVB Grand Champions Cup, FIVB Junior and Youth tournaments and, of course, the Olympics.
As FIVB's basic platform and comprising all affiliated National Federations, the World Congress is the supreme authority. Convened every two years, the Congress elects the President and members of the Board. The Board of Administration is responsible for the overall management of the FIVB, overseeing the work of the National Federations, Confederations, Commissions and Councils, and appoints officials including members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of Board members and each member is charged with important and specific responsibilities.
The FIVB President is personally accountable before the Congress and the Board of Administration whose decisions he is responsible for executing and is supported by the General Manager and the Executive Committee members.
The FIVB headquarters hosts different departments, each one managed by a Director. The Volleyball Events Department, Beach Volleyball Department, Technical and Development Department, Press Department, TV & Marketing Department, IT Department and Finance Department implement the decisions of the Board of Administration.
National Federations are responsible for Volleyball in their respective countries while Continental Confederations, Councils and Commissions are supporting institutions of FIVB actions in their area and are accountable before the FIVB for the fulfillment of their duties in accordance with FIVB regulations and decisions.
FIVB technical officials represent the FIVB worldwide in its global operations. They supervise and participate in the organization of events, ensuring that event organizers deliver world-class conditions to sponsors and participants.