Volleyball World and the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) have agreed to a landmark extension of their commercial partnership through 2052, securing a long-term framework for the commercialisation and development of volleyball across Asia.
Announced at the AVC Congress in Bangkok, the agreement will see Volleyball World continue as the AVC’s exclusive commercial partner for the next 26 years. Its remit includes the commercial development of AVC competitions across sponsorship, media rights and event hosting, extending a relationship that was originally established in 2022 for the 2024–2032 period.
The extended partnership reflects the progress made during the initial agreement, with Volleyball World and the AVC working to strengthen the profile, distribution and commercial potential of competitions across the continent. The next phase will focus on further developing competition structures, enhancing event delivery, expanding commercial and media opportunities and strengthening fan engagement.
The agreement also introduces greater financial certainty for participating teams and athletes, including guaranteed prize money for the AVC Champions League and the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Championships.
Volleyball World CEO Ugo Valensi said, “This extension is a powerful vote of confidence in what Volleyball World and the AVC have achieved together and, more importantly, in what lies ahead. Volleyball is growing faster in Asia than anywhere else in the world, and this partnership puts us in a position to shape that growth together — across both AVC and FIVB competitions. Our partnership has already delivered meaningful progress across competitions, commercial development and fan engagement, and this extension gives us the opportunity to achieve even more together. We are creating the long-term stability needed to make bold decisions, invest in the future and continue raising the standard of volleyball across Asia. We look forward to building on this momentum with the AVC and its National Federations for many years to come.”
AVC President Ramon Suzara added, “This partnership is a defining moment for volleyball in Asia. Together with Volleyball World, we have raised the standard of our competitions, opened new opportunities for our athletes, national teams and clubs, and brought AVC events to a far wider audience. Committing to 2052 gives our 65 national federations the certainty they need to plan, invest and grow with confidence, and ensures that the next generation of Asian players and fans will experience volleyball at its very best.”
The 2052 commitment gives Volleyball World an extended commercial runway in one of the sport’s most important global markets, while providing the AVC with a stable platform for investment and competition development.
The extension marks a significant evolution of the partnership, moving beyond traditional rights commercialisation towards a long-term strategy combining media, sponsorship, competition development and investment. It also positions Volleyball World and the AVC to build a more commercially sustainable ecosystem for volleyball and beach volleyball across Asia over the coming decades.
