CEV President reviews a momentous year for European Volleyball

CEV President Roko Sikirić and his colleagues from the CEV Board of Administration could proudly share the results of a truly momentous year for the organisation when members of the European Volleyball family came together this past weekend in Paris for the XLVI CEV General Assembly. The past 12 months have coincided with the dawn of a new era for European Volleyball – with many unprecedented achievements along the way.

Historic Financial Growth 

From a financial perspective, the CEV President and his team secured for 2025 the highest budget in the history of the organisation in a non-EuroVolley year thanks to additional income coming from sponsorships. Moreover, the year ahead – 2026 – will account for a record-breaking budget in CEV’s history ever since the Confederation was established in 1973. This upward trajectory represents a 67% increase since the new leadership took office, reflecting a remarkable pattern of growth and demonstrating the strengthened commercial momentum and positive transformation the organisation has undergone.

Commercial Strategy and Innovation

Moreover, after completing a due diligence analysis, the CEV President and leadership unveiled this past weekend a comprehensive Commercial Plan for 2025-2028 due to disclose and seize the much untapped potential available for the sport in Europe and even further beyond. Earlier this year, the CEV did sign the very first agreement with a naming partner – the ZEREN Group – for the CEV Champions League Volley Women in nine years. Additional partnerships are now in place for the men’s competition with renowned companies such as Asseco, Halkbank, and Nicollin – as well as with Igor Gorgonzola for the women’s tournament. The CEV and Gerflor have entered a partnership whereby the French company will be the sole provider of Volleyball flooring for elite events such as EuroVolley and the CEV Champions League Volley until 2028. 

This flurry of activities has had a major impact on the re-organisation of the CEV headquarters as well, with the establishment of a Commercial Department in charge of managing such partnerships as well as of exploring further avenues to secure even more revenues. 

At the same time, the CEV General Assembly held in Paris was the ideal platform where to introduce National Federations to the ambitious CEV Global Volleyball Digital Programme, which is due to provide unprecedented opportunities for all stakeholders to accelerate their digital transformation and fully exploit the immense potential of technological advancements, including the use of AI-driven solutions. 

Solidarity and Good Governance 

Speaking of such opportunities, the CEV Solidarity Fund represents another such revolutionary initiative whereby National Federations, clubs, etc. can apply for financial support in their efforts to grow the game through a fully transparent, objective and measurable process. To this extent, the approval and introduction of the CEV Good Governance Code is another milestone in the continued efforts to make sure that the organisation evolves and functions in full compliance with the highest standards of transparency and accountability. 

Streamlining and Restructuring CEV Competitions 

The sport, however, always remains at the core of the CEV’s activities. The CEV leadership have made major steps forward in streamlining the competition calendar, thereby combining the provision of opportunities for National Federations with cost reductions – by removing, for instance, the application of registration fees for the European League. To align with the policies of the FIVB in this realm, this competition – as of 2026 – will serve as a key pathway for teams to qualify for the CEV EuroVolley in 2028, thus raising its sportive profile and commercial appeal at the same time. A revision of the competition format and calendar for age-group championships is also envisioned – especially in order to avoid any clashes with national league playoffs, while also introducing competition opportunities for teams not reaching the Final Rounds where the medals will be at stake. 

Overall, the past 12 months have literally re-shaped the image and perception of European Volleyball on the international stage. However, the CEV President and his team are only at the beginning of an exciting mission and journey to usher in a new era for the sport.