Confédération Européenne de Volleyball

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Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV) is the continental governing body for the sport of volleyball in Europe. Its headquarters are located in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

1 Profile
2 Teams
3 Affiliated Federations
4 Clubs Competitions
- 4.1 Men's
- 4.2 Women's
5 External links

[edit] Profile

Although the CEV was only formed on October 21, 1963, volleyball became popular in Europe many years before. The majority of the teams that attended the Congress which eventually lead to the foundation of the FIVB in 1947 were from this continent. In fact, the foundation itself is supposed to have been a move on the part of European national federations.

Volleyball was invented in the USA, but became for the first time an extremely popular sport in eastern Europe, after being introduced by American soldiers during World War I. By the middle of the century, it had already spread through the rest of the continent as well. Many techniques and tactics that are commonplace in modern volleyball have been allegedly introduced by European teams. Amongst others, it would be worthy of note here: blocking (Czechoslovakia, 1938); penetration of the setter, which eventually led to the development of the so called 5-1 system (USSR, 1949); forearm pass (Czechoslovakia, 1958); and backrow attack (Poland, 1974).

The long and significant tradition of the sport in the continent may at least partially account for the administrative structure employed by the CEV, that rivals with the FIVB's in size and comprehensiveness. It is the biggest of all volleyball confederations, and the one that organizes the largest number of annual competitions and tournaments. As of 2005, its headquarters are located in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

As the presiding entity over European volleyball federations, the CEV organizes continental competitions such as the prestigious European Championship (first edition, 1948), the CEV Cup and the European League. It participates in the organization of qualification tournaments for major events such as the Olympic Games or the World Championship, and of international competitions hosted by one of its affiliated federations.

[edit] Teams

Europe is considered the strongest continent in the field of volleyball. The CEV has usually more spots reserved in international competitions than any other confederation.

Russia, which inherited most of the players and coaches from former USSR and CIS, has arguably the most stable volleyball programme, supporting top level women's and men's teams. The same may be said of Italy, although only in later years women's volleyball was fully developed in this country.

Serbia & Montenegro, former Yugoslavia, and The Netherlands must also be counted as continental forces in men's volleyball. At a lower level of play, one may consider a few other teams with some tradition in this realm, such as Spain, Bulgaria and France; and at an even lower level, but still capable of occasionally upseting stronger teams, Germany, Greece, Poland and possibly Portugal.

Competition is less tough in the domain of women's volleyball. Russia and Italy are rarely threatened by any other team in major competitions. Apart from these two, Germany, which has drawn players both from West and East Germany, may be viewed as the next most traditional European team. With more inconsistent results and often depending on the excellence of individual players, one may also take into consideration: The Netherlands, Croatia, Romania, and more recently Turkey, Poland and Bulgaria.

[edit] Affiliated Federations

As of 2004, the following national federations were affiliated to the CEV:

Code	Country	Federation
ALB	Albania	Fédération Albanaise de Volleyball
AND	Andorra	Federació Andorrana de Voleibol
ARM	Armenia	Fédération de Volleyball de la Republique d'Armenie
AUT	Austria	Österreichischer Volleyball Verband
AZE	Azerbaijan	Azerbaycan Voleybol Federasiyasi
BLR	Belarus	Bielorusskaia Federatsija Volejbola
BEL	Belgium	Fédération Royale Belge de Volleyball
BIH	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Odbojkaški savez Bosne i Hercegovine
BUL	Bulgaria	Bulgarska Federatsiya Volejbol
CRO	Croatia	Hrvatski Odbojkaski Savez
CYP	Cyprus	Kypriaki Omospondia Petosfairisis
CZE	Czech Republic	Český Volejbalový Svaz
DEN	Denmark	Dansk Volleyball Forbund
ENG	England	Volleyball England
ESP	Spain	Real Federación Española de Voleibol
EST	Estonia	Eesti Võrkpalli Liit
FER	Faroe Islands	Flogbóltssamband Føroya
FIN	Finland	Suomen Lentopalloliitto F. Y.
FRA	France	Fédération Française de Volleyball
GEO	Georgia	Georgian Volleyball Federation *
GER	Germany	Deutscher Volleyball Verband
GIB	Gibraltar	Gibraltar Volleyball Association
GRE	Greece	Elliniki Omospondia Petosferiseos
GRL	Greenland	Kalaallit Nunaanni Volleyballertartut Kattuffiat
HUN	Hungary	Magyar Roplabda Szovetseg
IRL	Ireland	Volleyball Association of Ireland
ISL	Iceland	Blaksamband Íslands
ISR	Israel	Igud HaKadur'af BeIsrael
ITA	Italy	Federazione Italiana Pallavolo
LAT	Latvia	Latvijas Volejbola Federâcija
LIE	Liechtenstein	Liechtensteiner Volleyball Verband
LTU	Lithuania	Lithuanian Volleyball Federation *
LUX	Luxembourg	Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Volleyball
MKD	Republic of Macedonia	Odbojkarska Federatsija Na Makedonija
MLD	Moldova	Fédération de Volleyball de la Republique de Moldavie
MLT	Malta	Malta Volleyball Association
MON	Monaco	Fédération Monegasque de Volleyball
NED	Netherlands	Nederlandse Volleybal Bond
NIR	Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland Volleyball Association
NOR	Norway	Norges Volleyballforbund
POL	Poland	Polski Zwiazek Pilki Siatkowej
POR	Portugal	Federação Portuguesa de Voleibol
ROM	Romania	Federatia Romania de Volei
RUS	Russia	Vserossijskaya Federatsiya Volejbola
SER	Serbia	Odbojkaški Savez Srbije
SCO	Scotland	Scottish Volleyball Association
SLO	Slovenia	Odbojkarska Zveza Slovenije
SMR	San Marino	Federazione Sammarinese Pallavolo
SVK	Slovakia	Slovenská Volejbalová Federácia
SUI	Switzerland	Swiss Volley
SWE	Sweden	Svenska Volleybollförbundet
TUR	Turkey	Turkiye Voleybol Federasyonu
UKR	Ukraine	Ukrainian Volleyball Federation *
WAL	Wales	Welsh Volleyball Association