Did you know…
Boris Yeltsin -who was president of the Russian Federation- was a volleyball player. Russia hosted the Boris Yeltsin Cup in 2008.
The Japanese men’s team won the gold medal at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Japan beat East Germany 3-1 in the final. This team also won the gold medal at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok (Thailand). The Olympic players were: Yoshihide Fukao, Kenji Kimura, Masayuki Minami, Jungo Morita, Yuzo Nakamura, Katsutoshi Nekoda, Tetsuo Nishimoto, Yasuhiro Noguchi, Seijo Oko, Tetsuo Sato, Kenji Shimaoka, Todayoshi Yokota.
The FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) is one of the most successful sports organizations in the world. Dr. Ruben Acosta (president of the FIVB) said, “There are no secret to success. Just organization, administration and management, sharing know-how and skills, and seizing opportunities…”
In 2006, the United States was defeated by Venezuela at the Men’s Volleyball World Championships in Tokyo (Japan)…
In 1952, India was among 8 countries which took part in the First Women’s World Championships in Moscow (USSR).
The United States men’s volleyball squad finished 6th place in the Volleyball World League. The team members were: Marc Jones (played for SDSU), Parker Blackman (played for Stanford), Allen Allen (played for Hawaii ), Dan Greenbaum (played for USC ), Uvaldo Acosta (George Mason), Craig Buck (El Charro PD, Italy), Bryan Ivie (USC), Jose Gandara (UCSB), Tom Sorenson (Pepperdine), Eric Sato(SMCC), Brent Hilliard (CSULB), Jon Root (Stanford), Scott Fortune (Stanford), Carlos Briceño (Hawaii), Bob Samuelson (CSUN), Mark Arnold (Pepperdine), Mark Kerins (CSULB), Shirman Trevor (UCLA), Javier Gaspar (Penn Saint), Dan Hanan (Stanford).
South Korea has contributed greatly to the development of volleyball in the world. In the past century, this Asian nation sent several coaches to Latin America and other countries: Man Bok Park (Peru, 1975-1993), Young Wang Sohn (Argentina, 1977-1983), Park Jik Kuk (Mexico, 1981-1984), Park Moo (Canada, 1974-1976)…
The Netherlands men’s national volleyball team was coached by Arie Selinger, who had previously led the U.S. women’s volleyball team to Olympic silver medal in 1984…
Bulgaria hosted the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships in 1970.
Final standings:
1.East Germany (now Germany)
2.Bulgaria
3.Japan
4.Czechoslovakia (now Slovak Republic)
5.Poland
6.USSR (now Russia)
7.Romania
8.Belgium
9.North Korea
10.Hungary
11.Brazil
12.Cuba
13.Holland
14. Italy
15.Mongolia
16.France
17.USA
18.Israel
19.Finland
20.Iran
21.Tunisia
22.Venezuela
23.Guinea
The U.S. men’s volleyball team has participated in nine Summer Olympics: Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008… America has qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games…
Julio Velasco was assistant coach for Argentina at the FIVB Men’s World Cup in 1982. Seven years later, Julio, who was born and grew up in Buenos Aires (Argentina), was head coach of the Italian men’s national volleyball team, one of the world’s five greatest volleyball teams. Under his leadership, Italy won the following titles and medals:
1990: FIVB Men’s World Championships-1st place
1990: Volleyball World League -1st place
1991: European Tournament-2nd place
1991: Volleyball World League -1st place
1992: Volleyball World League -1st place
1993: European Tournament-1st place
1993: Volleyball World League -3rd place
1993: World Cup-1st place
1994: World Championships-1st place
1994: Volleyball World League -1st place
1995: European Tournament-1st place
1995: Volleyball World League -1st place
1995: World Cup-1st place
1996: Summer Olympic Games- 2nd place (silver medal)
1996: Volleyball World League -2nd place
