FIVB meets with Turkish Olympic Committee leadership, volleyball development headlines discussions

ISTANBUL, Türkiye, May 7, 2025.- The FIVB this week met with the leadership of the Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) at its headquarters in Istanbul, following the country’s successful hosting of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Champions League Volley 2025 Final Four Women on 3-4 May.

The meeting focused on further strengthening volleyball development in Türkiye and celebrating the nation’s continued success in the global game. It was hosted by TOC President Ahmet Gülüm, a former captain of the Türkiye men’s national volleyball team and long-time advocate for the development of sport in the country. Also in attendance were TOC Treasurer Mustafa Tankut Turnaoğlu, TOC Board Member Özkan Mutlugil, who has previously served as a FIVB Board of Administration member, CEV Vice President and Treasurer, and Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) President, as well as the TOC Secretary General Neşe Gündoğan.

Representatives from the Global Volleyball Movement included FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, CEV President and FIVB 2nd Executive Vice-President Roko Sikirić, TVF Director of International Relations and Organizations Department Nilüfer Basak Shimonsky, FIVB General Sports Director Steve Tutton, Volleyball World Chief Business Officer Guido Betti, and FIVB Head of International Affairs and Communications Anna Manuelian.

During the meeting, the FIVB presented its Strategic Vision 2032, a roadmap for advancing the sport through the pillars of professionalism, integration, empowerment and mass participation. Aligned with its motto, “Together as One”, the FIVB delegation reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the TOC and TVF to further grow volleyball in Türkiye.

Türkiye has become a global powerhouse in volleyball, particularly in the women’s game, with the national team achieving historic successes and clubs consistently performing at the highest levels in international competitions. The recent CEV Final Four underscored the country’s ability to host world-class events and engage fans worldwide. The country is set to host the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) women’s pool in Istanbul later this year.