Expensive World ParaVolley Group,
When the World ParaVolley Group gathers on-line for the Basic Meeting we are going to evaluation the work of 2022-2023. Earlier than that, I wish to take this chance to ship greatest needs to all for this Vacation Season and to supply a abstract of the 12 months 2024 in evaluation.
A 12 months in the past, our earlier President, Mr. Barry Couzner OAM (AUS), introduced his early retirement from World ParaVolley. It was my honor to work alongside Barry since 2022 on the Board as Sport Director then Vice President, and for practically 30 years earlier than that on the planet of volleyball and seaside volleyball. Moving into the position of President and accepting the accountability meant looking again first and understanding how we received right here earlier than deciding the best way to transfer ahead.
Barry and the Board gathered one final time collectively in December 2023. It was essential to notice that for practically 20 years prior the work of World ParaVolley had largely been finished by a small group of volunteer leaders, many who have been retired or coming to the top of their service to the neighborhood. Succession planning was a significant want identifed to make sure extra folks with curiosity and experience got alternatives to serve and assist lead World ParaVolley into the longer term. It’s a nice signal that so many have an interest to serve and a part of the problem transferring ahead is offering the knowledge, assets, and experience to assist the following 20 years with new leaders becoming a member of the trouble alongside these whose work prior to now has helped us attain this level.
The aim of my quick Presidency to this second has been to “pay attention and be taught” whereas figuring out any areas of concern to make sure a clean transition for the longer term. If you come inside with a particular agenda or platform this solely serves one’s personal function. Additionally it is ineffective to criticize with out bringjng viable options ahead for dialogue and consideration. And when main a world group it’s important to steadiness the wants of ALL international locations and contemplate fastidiously what is going to profit the most important share of the membership. My want is to let the members converse and assist form the objectives for the longer term. Then I see my activity is to search out the methods to assist assist WPV as a corporation and the folks serving in management so these objectives could be achieved.
The next are highlights of 2024:
- Direct conferences and discussions have been held with WPV fee leaders, beginning with the Athletes Fee to prioritize involving extra athletes in management to offer invaluable studying and data gathering alternatives. We benefitted from the attitude of the two athelete representatives to the Board, Ms. Nicky Nieves PLY (USA) and Mr. Ivan Ćosić (CRO). In an effort to contain extra athlete voice, I invited Heidi Peters PLY (CAN) from the fee to attend Board Conferences as a visitor and to serve in different areas of governance.
- Suggestions acquired from many countries in regards to the want for extra direct communication from the Board to them created alternatives for conversations the place many misconceptions have been corrected and misinformation that created belief points was addressed. As a greatest apply, I started inviting fee leaders, athletes, and related individuals corresponding to authorized advisors and the Paralympic Technical Delegate to attend Board Conferences to report immediately on the actions in these areas and supply some extra transparency and readability.
- Makes an attempt to establish the mechanisms to behave upon member’s suggestions was prioritized. Areas of consistency and professionalism of WPV operations have been among the many most often talked about by members as being important for the longer term. As a corporation comprised of a majority of volunteers and one impartial contractor it’s essential to re-examine this mannequin with a purpose to obtain the professionalism the members want for the longer term.
- Preparation for the Paris 2024 Paralympics was supported by many extra individuals and areas of focus to create a stronger group surroundings to achieve a profitable end result.
- Organizational leaders have been additional empowered to refresh, renew and alter the best way WPV approached operations with a purpose to replace our processes to higher meet the issues of the member’s suggestions.
- WPV Federation, Inc was efficiently registered as a non-profit charitable company in the USA to additional maximize enterprise and monetary alternatives for the longer term. This accomplished a venture began beneath the management of Previous President Couzner. The following transition step to the brand new enterprise operations should be accomplished after an auditing course of and closing closure of the earlier enterprise entity.
- Advertising and marketing and Communications will proceed to play an essential position sooner or later as WPV adjusts its concentrate on creating income alternatives to assist its strategic objectives transferring ahead. WPV Advertising and marketing Director, Ms. Christine Shelby (USA), has re-positioned many areas of the advertising effort and is now engaged in all contracts together with sponsors and suppliers. Working carefully with Christine is Ms. Anna Tomas (PHI), WPV Communications Supervisor, who launched a brand new technique and content material plan for social media in 2024 whereas persevering with to rebuild the Communications Committee with working professionals.
- Safeguarding and integrity oversight continued to make enhancements. The method is ongoing and requires experience from many contributors who’re skilled on this area of research. Ms. Laura Inlow (USA) and Mr. Sven Ritter (GER) and the Safeguarding Integrity Fee proceed to handle this most intricate and delicate space with a trauma-informed perspective.
- Underneath the course of WPV Medical Director, Ms. Louise Ashcroft (CAN) and assistant Medical Director, Mr. Saro Kerestycian (CAN) the areas of anti-doping, classification, and analysis continues to take care of a excessive degree of operations with contributions from fee leaders.
- The efforts to assist the rising sport self-discipline of seaside paravolley continues with a concentrate on the IPC’s utility course of to the game program of the 2032 Brisbane Paralympics. A Seashore ParaVolley World Championships was held in Could for males’s groups in China. Many international locations have proven curiosity in seaside paravolley, together with from potential new members who haven’t beforehand participated in paravolley.
- Preparations for a full governance evaluation and continuation of labor in the direction of the 2025-2032 strategic plan stays a key precedence for the Board. The formation of the brand new Authorized Fee is one essential step and might be managed by Mr. Graham Arthur (GBR) who has served as WPV Basic Counsel for a few years. Governance and all areas of operations continues to be supported by the WPV Basic Supervisor, Mr. Phil Allen (CAN), with assist from WPV Treasurer, Mr. Benno Meijer (NED).
- A renewed technique searching for collaboration is in improvement with key affiliate organizations together with the FIVB and World Capability Sport. Dr. Stephen Giugni OAM (AUS) and his assistant sport administrators Ms. Chrissy Benz (CAN) for paravolley and Mr. David Cox (NOR) for seaside paravolley, are already engaged in host bidding for 2025-2028 to hopefully present extra lead time for the affirmation of worldwide occasions and the pathway to LA28.
- Restructuring of the World ParaVolley Commissions and Committees began in 2024 with rather more work wanted. The restructuring will hopefully open extra alternatives for individuals with numerous expertise and experience to take part in management and proceed to assist a vibrant volunteer base.
- Utilizing private relationships and networking we held essential discussions and proactive conferences with LA28 and key organizations in Los Angeles. Conferences held in Paris through the Paralympics with LA28 and Brisbane 2032 will assist us guarantee we maximize alternatives to make our greatest efforts for the following 2 Paralympics.
- The world of Growth continues to make developments beneath the course of WPV Growth Director, Mr. Anton Raimondo (RSA) with the introduction of recent programs and academic alternatives and the interior administration of the IPC grant funding which continues to assist actions for our members.
- Cooperation with the World ParaVolley Basis continued through the 12 months and on the Paris Paralympics the place fundraising was profitable by their Chairman, Jim Leask. The Basis is an impartial non-profit charitable company based mostly within the USA with its personal Board of Administrators and is making ready to announce a primary spherical of grant recipients subsequent week. There are future plans for extra grant packages and fundraising efforts proceed.
- Actions in every zone are managed by the 4 Zone Presidents Mr. Ehab Hassanein (EGY) of ParaVolley Africa, Mr. Lu Cailliang (CHN) of ParaVolley Asia Oceania, Mr. Branko Mihorko (SLO) of ParaVolley Europe and Mr. joe Campbell (USA) of ParaVolley Pan America. The President’s are actively searching for alternatives that assist the member nations of their respective zones. I used to be happy to have the ability to go to not less than one occasion in every zone throughout my quick tjme as President, and to fulfill many leaders in individual to listen to immediately from you, the members, what is de facto occurring in your nation and what your priorities are. That was very useful in the direction of discovering options.
- I’ve continued to prioritize worldwide relations with productive and candid in individual conferences with IPC President, Andrew Parsons, IPC CEO Mike Peters and members of the chief administration group, the brand new FIVB President, Mr. Fabio Azevedo and key members of the FIVB administration workers, the CEO of World Capability Sport, Ms. Charmaine Hooper, and remained an energetic member of the Affiliation of Paralympic Sport Organizations (APSO) to additional place World ParaVolley in a collaborative view with different worldwide para sport federations.
The 12 months 2024 was transitional and centered on gathering data. Getting a way of the true situation of World ParaVolley and the place extra consideration was wanted. It was an endeavor that required humility to listen to some data that may be laborious to simply accept or decide the best way to repair. The work should proceed and it takes everybody concerned to commit. The 12 months 2024 was additionally a second to replicate, for all of us, the large alternative we have now earlier than us to take our collective enter and evolve into a brand new period.
Sincerely,
LORI OKIMURA
World ParaVolley President
