“The decision is a real shame”: the 2022 Volleyball World Cup was moved to Poland and Slovenia, and Ukraine will take the place of the Russian team

The Volleyball World Championship was supposed to be one of the largest and brightest sporting events of the year in Russia.

It was planned that the tournament would be hosted by ten cities at once, and it would last for almost a month - from August 26 to September 11.

His organization turned out to be especially important for the country also because the last time it hosted the championship of the planet back in 1962.

After 60 years, a real holiday awaited her.

Alas, he was not destined to take place.

Back in early March, the World Cup in Russia was canceled, and the day before there was news about its transfer to Poland and Slovenia.

In particular, this was confirmed by Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki.

The International Volleyball Federation initially denied the information, but on Friday they officially announced the change of organizers.

The FIVB noted that the two above-mentioned countries themselves expressed their desire to host the tournament.

At the same time, individual matches can be held on the territory of other states.

The president of the federation, Ari Graça Filho, stressed that Poland and Slovenia have vast experience in organizing such events.

“I would like to sincerely thank the countries that have shown interest in offering their help at a difficult time for volleyball.

Deeply moved by how the volleyball family came together in solidarity, and we are proud that we were able to find such an amazing way out, ”said the functionary.

Much more unexpected was the decision of the FIVB to replace Russia at the 2022 World Cup with Ukraine, which initially failed to break into the final stage.

This move was explained in the organization by the fact that the neighbors have the highest rating among the teams that failed in the selection.

The HLF reported that they had received a corresponding letter.

At the same time, the group stage draw will not be held again, and the national team will simply take the place of the domestic team in Quartet A under the first seeded number.

This was a gift for a modest team that had little chance of qualifying for the World Cup.

At last year's European Championship, which was part of the selection, the Ukrainians lost to the Russians in the 1/8 finals.

They also failed to get into the top 12 teams according to the FIVB rating, from among the failed ones.

And before that, they only once in their history took part in the final stage of the world championship - in 1998, they took tenth place in Nagano.

In Russia, although the FIVB verdict was met with indignation, it seems that they were ready for it.

So, the Secretary General of the WFV Oleksandr Yaremenko noted: Ukraine's participation in the tournament is not surprising.

“If a team is eliminated from the competition, the next ranked team is included in them.

From the point of view of the position on the World Cup, it is difficult to find fault with the decision of the FIVB, because Ukraine was the next in the ranking.

But the fact that she was put in completely privileged conditions by the leader of the group, as the host of the tournament, replacing Russia, is a moot point.

Apparently, the FIVB decided not to conduct a new draw, ”the R-Sport functionary quotes.

In his opinion, according to logic, both sides of the conflict should not have taken part in the World Cup, but the international federation issued a different verdict.

“Against the background of what is happening in the world, this is not particularly surprising.

Moreover, they had a reason, ”added Yaremenko.

And the general manager of the Russian national team, Sergei Tetyukhin, noted with regret that sport has recently turned into politics.

Ukraine, according to him, is unlikely to be able to perform with dignity at the World Cup.

“It is their right to include anyone.

It is difficult to say what result Ukraine will show at the World Cup.

I can’t say that this is a top team in world volleyball, but a good average team.

I don't think they have any future.

I really look at things, I have a good attitude towards volleyball players, but some high places are unlikely to be occupied.

Will everything be limited to leaving the group?

It’s not a fact that they will still come out of it, ”Sport-Express quotes Tetyukhin.

Another former player of the Russian national team Alexei Spiridonov, on the contrary, suggested that the neighbors are able to compete for a ticket to the 1/8 finals, but such a result will be the maximum for them.

Experts interviewed by RT also admitted that they were not very surprised at the steps of the international federation.

For example, the former head coach of the domestic national team, Vladimir Alekno, suggested that the replacement of Russia with Ukraine could have matured even before the World Cup was finally transferred to Poland and Slovenia.

“Who instead of us, Ukraine or Zimbabwe, by and large does not play a role.

The championship of the planet was taken away from Russia, and this is very bad.

How correct is it from a sports point of view to give a ticket to Ukraine?

Unfortunately, at the moment all sports, ethical, financial principles have been reduced to zero.

Therefore, there is no need to be surprised, ”the specialist complained.

However, from the forced pass by the World Cup team, he urged not to make a tragedy.

According to the expert, one should not talk about complete isolation.

“The national championship is held at a high level, and the fans are starting to love their athletes.

Although from the point of view of professional volleyball, everything that happens is a minus.

And from the point of view of youth development - a plus.

Young guys will only take a step forward, ”added Alekno.

Another ex-mentor of the Russian national team, and at the moment the vice-president of the VFV, Gennady Shipulin, on the contrary, could hardly restrain his emotions.

“Depressed by the FIVB verdict and protest against it.

Unfortunately, both Ukraine and the transfer of the World Cup to Poland and Slovenia are one and the same.

I can't bear to watch what's going on.

Our organizing committee has done a great job.

A government decree has been issued.

The country has incurred huge costs.

They built new stadiums.

There was no world championship in Russia for 60 years.

The decision of the FIVB cannot be accepted.

This is a real shame.

The International Federation followed suit and worked out the scenario.

Apparently, there was a desire, so to speak, to take under the visor, ”the specialist emphasized.

At the same time, the coach is sure that Ukraine will not be able to show a decent result at the World Cup, and it makes no sense to compare it with Russia.

“She is in the volleyball pit both in terms of rankings and performance.

These are different poles.

Alas, Ukraine is not able to perform normally.

Although in Soviet times volleyball in the country was at a high level, but everything was cut to the quick.

We still maintain contacts with the guys from there, because volleyball lives outside of politics, ”Shipulin said.