European referees make up 50% of match officials at Paris 2024

European referees represent about 50% of the match officials appointed to oversee the Volleyball and Beach Volleyball competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This reflects the very high standards achieved by Volleyball referees from across Europe, is testament to the extensive work done by the European Refereeing Commission (ERC) and shall serve as an inspiration for the younger ones to work hard to achieve their dreams as well. 

Out of 16 referees appointed by the FIVB for the Volleyball competition, as many as eight come from Europe. These are Ivaylo Ivanov (Bulgaria), Fabrice Collados (France), Epaminondas Gerothodoros (Greece), Stefano Cesare (Italy), Wojciech Maroszek (Poland), Juraj Mokrý (Slovakia), Vladimir Simonović (Switzerland), and Nurper Özbar (Türkiye). If some are enjoying the Olympic experience for the first time in their careers, others have established themselves at the highest level for more than a decade now. The European contingent is completed by challenge referee Daniele Rapisarda of Italy. 

Europe’s contribution to the match officials involved in the Beach Volleyball competition organised by the Eiffel Tower is almost just as impressive, with seven out of 16 coming from the ‘Old Continent’. These are Sylvain Druart (France), Charalampos Papadogoulas (Greece), Davide Crescentini (Italy), Agnieszka Myszkowska (Poland), Rui Carvalho (Portugal), Robert Leko (Serbia), and José María Padrón (Spain) plus challenge referee Robert Bronisz (Poland). 

These referees deserve the most heartfelt congratulations from all members of the European Volleyball family as they enjoy the experience of a lifetime and the tremendous responsibility that goes with it!