2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship kicked off at Shaoxing Olympic Sports Center. [Photo by Zhang Bin/Shaoxing Daily]
In this early winter, our city is permeated with passion for sports. On the evening of December 4th, the opening ceremony of 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship was held at the Olympic Sports Center in our city. The honorary president of the International Volleyball Federation(FIVB) Wei Jizhong announced the opening. The municipal Party secretary Ma Weiguang, the director of Zhejiang Sports Bureau, Zheng Yao, and the president of the management committee of FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship, Hugh Graham addressed the opening ceremony. The president of the organizing committee of FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship, Snoff Jacoby, the former president of China Sports Newspaper Office, Lu Guang, the director of the Volleyball Management Center of General Administration of Sport of China, Li Quanqiang, the former director Xu Li, the deputy director Lai Yawen and the municipal leaders Sheng Yuechun, Tan Zhigui and Wei Wei attended the opening ceremony.
Hugh Graham said in his speech that China has a long history of hosting major FIVB events. That the world’s top women’s volleyball championship is held in Shaoxing fully shows China strongly supports women’s volleyball. In next few days, we will see the women’s volleyball stars show their charm in this high-level event that has reached the highest standards in terms of technology and fans’ participation. He hopes Chinese volleyball fans and the media fully enjoy the championship, and hope that all the volleyball teams have happy memories in Shaoxing, a historic and cultural city.
Zheng Yao said that Shaoxing holds the championship will further promote exchange and the integration of the Olympic spirit and Chinese civilization, and better show the unique charm of volleyball. People in Zhejiang have a special liking for volleyball. Shaoxing, the host city, is taking high-level international volleyball events as a new start and striving to build a destination city of international events. With the guidance and help of FIVB and General Administration of Sport of China, we will spare no effort to organize this event, carry forward the spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball team in the new era, and present a gift to the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up.
On behalf of the municipal leaders and more than five million Shaoxing people, Ma Weiguang extended warm congratulations on the successful opening of the event. He said we are excited and proud that the championship is held in China for the first time and Shaoxing is the host city. Volleyball is popular among Shaoxing people. Many outstanding athletes of the national team and coaches are from Shaoxing. As the host city, we will do our best to ensure good service, provide the best competition environment so as to present a wonderful sporting feast to the world.
