NINGBO, China, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- China has strong capabilities in hosting top-level volleyball events, and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) intends to bring more major competitions to the country, FIVB President Fabio Azevedo said.
Speaking to Xinhua during the 2026 Men's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals, held from July 29 to August 2 in Beilun, Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Azevedo described the tournament as another successful example of cooperation between China and the FIVB.
"Beilun is the home of China's women's volleyball team. You can see from the outside how passionate the fans are. It's a great destination, a great city, with a great venue and a great atmosphere. We will keep coming back," Azevedo said.
Azevedo said the VNL had continued to grow in both quality and global reach.
"In terms of the quality of the event and the overall experience, the VNL has continued to improve. Audience numbers have increased by more than 20 percent compared with last year," he said. "We believe the VNL is becoming increasingly established. It has become a great global sports product."
The enthusiasm of Chinese fans has been one of the highlights of this year's competition. On June 6, 17,816 spectators watched China defeat Serbia 3-0 in the women's VNL in Nanjing, setting a record for attendance at a single VNL match.
"China is a powerhouse of volleyball, and I can guarantee that China will continue to host major events," Azevedo said, describing the country as an important partner for the FIVB in staging major tournaments.
"China is a fundamental part of our strategy," he said. "With excellent hosting conditions, a huge fan base and a strong foundation for grassroots volleyball, China will continue to contribute to the development of volleyball in Asia and around the world."
Azevedo said China's large volleyball community could also play an important role in helping the FIVB achieve its long-term goal of expanding global participation in the sport.
"Our mission is to double the number of volleyball fans worldwide, and we are creating amazing products for those fans," he said. "More people are following our social media platforms and our athletes, who are becoming increasingly influential and recognized."
Azevedo also said discussions over China's potential hosting of the 2031 Volleyball World Cup were progressing well.
"We are in very advanced negotiations. We are in direct contact with the Chinese authorities, and there is a common willingness from both sides to make it happen," he added. "I am confident that very soon we can announce it. It can bring volleyball to every corner of the country, with multiple cities hosting the event and bringing the best of world volleyball to China for three weeks." ■
