In the elections for the FIVB Administrative Board, the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation is represented by the candidacy of Lyubomir Ganev. Ganev, a former volleyball star and current president of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, actively participates in international volleyball governance. He was recently successfully elected to the CEV Administrative Board, solidifying his role in European volleyball leadership.

Now, Ganev is vying for a position on the FIVB Board, aiming to contribute to global volleyball governance. His candidacy represents Bulgaria's efforts to strengthen its influence in international volleyball organizations, marking a return to a high level of representation that the country has not had for over five decades.
These elections are part of a larger FIVB restructuring, as the organization is also electing a new president, likely to be Fabio Azevedo, following the planned retirement of Dr. Ary Graça.

The FIVB Congress, which will be held from November 15 to 17, 2024, in Porto, Portugal, will elect a new president of the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation). Azevedo, who is currently the FIVB Director General, is the sole candidate for the position. His eligibility was confirmed after an integrity review by the FIVB Electoral Committee. The formal voting process will allow member federations to ratify his appointment during this congress. In addition, elections for positions on the FIVB Administrative Board will also be held. These nominations were finalized earlier in the year, with continental confederations selecting their respective candidates to represent them at the global level. This Congress is expected to mark a leadership transition after Dr. Ary S. Graça's tenure as president, who has held the position since 2012.

It is envisaged that representatives of gender minorities will also be included in the Administrative Board - this is to strengthen FIVB's commitment to diversity in the governing structure.
The recruitment of candidates for the FIVB president position began on March 15, 2024, and lasted exactly five months - until July 15, 2024. During this period, only one candidacy was submitted - that of Fabio Azevedo. Born in 1971, the Brazilian has been involved with volleyball for more than thirty years. Since 2013, he has worked continuously with the International Volleyball Federation.

In the history of FIVB, five representatives have held the position of chief executive of the federation. The first was Paul Libaud. The Frenchman was president for 37 years. Later, for a shorter period, the Polish delegate Zygmunt Nowak succeeded him. In 1984, the Mexican Rubén Acosta took the reins, and it was not until 2008 that Wei Jizhong from China assumed his duties.

photos: fivb and Nikolay Varadinov