Over the past 12 years, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) has undergone a significant transformation in terms of governance and transparency, primarily under the leadership of Dr. Ary S. Graça F°. This journey, beginning in 2012, has been characterized by the organization’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in good governance and transparency, while consistently updating its legal framework to align with international best practices.
One of the key reforms initiated by the FIVB is the introduction of term limits across all positions within the organization. In 2014, a 12-year maximum term limit was set for the president’s term, and in 2022, a limit of three four-year terms for FIVB Board of Administration members was approved, to be effective starting in 2024. These changes aim to ensure continuous renewal and adherence to principles of good governance.
The FIVB has also revised its election processes. Since 2018, all Board members, except for Continental Confederation presidents, are elected democratically by the FIVB Congress, marking a departure from the earlier practice where most members were elected by their Confederations. Additionally, mandatory integrity checks for all Board of Administration candidates have been instituted, conducted by the FIVB Ethics Panel to ensure high standards of ethical conduct and integrity.
In 2021, the FIVB made significant structural changes to its governance model. The FIVB Congress amended the FIVB Constitution, leading to the removal of co-opted members from the FIVB Executive Committee and the addition of appointed members to the Board of Administration. These members include an athlete, a gender-in-minority representative, a director representing the FIVB Secretariat, and an independent expert in the sports market.
Gender equality has also been a focus area for the FIVB, with a commitment to ensuring a minimum of eight female members in the Board of Administration by the FIVB World Congress 2024. This follows major decisions made in 2021 and 2022 to enhance female representation in governance roles.
Athlete representation in governance has been another priority. The FIVB established the Athletes’ Commission in 2016 to serve as a link between athletes and the governing body. By 2021, the Commission’s members were being elected by their peers, ensuring a representative body, with the Commission’s president being selected by its members.
Furthermore, the FIVB has created several judicial bodies, including the FIVB Disciplinary Panel, the FIVB Appeals Panel, the FIVB Ethics Panel, and the FIVB Tribunal. These bodies, operational since 2013, focus on disciplinary, ethical, financial, and administrative matters. The role of the FIVB Ethics Panel was enhanced in 2018, granting it the authority to take decisions on ethical violations.
Additionally, the FIVB has implemented changes in its day-to-day operations, such as updating its Constitution in 2017 and 2021 to favor a multiple signature procedure for contracts, ensuring comprehensive verification processes and shared responsibility within the FIVB staff before contract finalization.
Overall, these governance transformations demonstrate the FIVB’s dedication to integrity, transparency, and the progressive development of volleyball governance on an international level.
