Sada Cruzeiro and Minas Tênis Clube will host the 2016 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship
Lausanne, Switzerland, August 31, 2016 - A press conference at the Parque Esportivo do Barro Preto in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday brought together the hosts of the 2016 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship, Sada Cruzeiro and Minas Tênis Clube.
Sada Cruzeiro will host the event in an unprecedented partnership with Minas Tênis Clube, demonstrating the strength and depth of volleyball in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. It will be the fourth consecutive edition of the competition to take place in Brazil.
"I would like to thank the FIVB who offered us the possibility to host the tournament. And I would like to thank the government of Minas Gerais for their support. It is also a joy to have the Minas Tênis Clube in this endeavour with us. We are working on hosting another successful edition of the event, featuring six of the best club teams in the world," said Sada Cruzeiro President Vittorio Medioli.
Minas president Luiz Gustavo Lage said: "For us it is a great honour and pleasure to be here today at this important moment. The Minas Tênis Clube, with its nine national titles, and double world champions Sada Cruzeiro are the two strongest representatives of club volleyball in Brazil. And we have to fight - in a good way - on the court and also off it, to contribute together to the sport's growth in the country. So it is very important to have the competition here in Minas Gerais, which puts our state in the prominent place it deserves."
The Men's Club World Championship will take place between October 19 and 23 at the Ginásio Poliesportivo Divino Braga in Betim, the venue which also hosted the Men's Club World Championships in 2013 and 2015. The gym is one of the largest venues in the state's metropolitan area and can welcome up to 7000 spectators.
The Ginásio Poliesportivo Divino BragaThe press conference was attended by club representatives, including the players and coaches of the two host clubs, and by Marco Tulio Teixeira, FIVB Board of Administration Member and Vice-President of the South American Volleyball Confederation (CSV).
Both teams will rely on their fans to do Brazil proud in the competition. After winning the competition in 2013 and 2015, Sada Cruzeiro will be aiming for a third title. Minas Tênis Clube are first-time participants in the competition and will want to show off their abilities at this level.
Six teams will compete in the 2016 edition of the Men's Club World Championship. The two Brazilian clubs will be joined by European champions Zenit Kazan from Russia, who were runners-up in 2015. Asia will be represented by Taichung Bank from Chinese Taipei and Africa by Tala'ea El Gaish SC from Egypt. The sixth club in the competition will be from the NORCECA Confederation (the North, Central America and Caribbean Confederation), and will be confirmed in due course.
Quick links:FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship 2016
ScheduleHost city and venue
Honours list