RIVALS DRAWN FOR WORLD CHAMPIONS BRAZIL AND ITALY

FIVB World Championships 2006 Drawing of Lots

Tokyo, Japan, November 29, 2005. Brazil will begin the defence of their men's World Championship crown against Cuba in Japan next November, following a colourful drawing of lots ceremony in Tokyo on Tuesday. In the women's event, 2002 world champions Italy will start their campaign against Serbia Montenegro.

After the 48 teams - 24 in each tournament - had been placed into one of four six-team groups, FIVB President Dr. Ruben Acosta gave his approval for the draw. "It is valid and final", he concluded to round off a ceremony that began with an atmospheric cultural performance and included a touch of glamour involving Miss Japan 2005 Lisa Kume.

In the men's tournament, Brazil will play in Pool B with Germany, Cuba, Greece, France and Australia.
Pool A is comprised of Egypt, Puerto Rico, Poland, China, Argentina and Japan. In Pool C there are the Czech Republic, Italy, USA, Venezuela, Bulgaria and Iran, and Pool D is made up of Russia, Tunisia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Korea and Serbia Montenegro.

Looking ahead to the men's tournament Italy's captain and setter Valerio Vermiglio said the Azzurri were in a very difficult group but they would try their best to advance. "We have had very good experience at the World Grand Champions Cup in Japan and we'll practise hard to do the best we can," stated Vermiglio who also took part in the drawing of lots. "I thought the ceremony was fantastic", he added.

Italy won three straight World Championships from 1990 to 1998, after group rival USA had won the title for the first time in Paris in 1986. The Czech Republic, also in Pool C with Italy, won world titles in 1956 and 1966 as the former Czechoslovakia.

Japan's men missed out on the bronze medal losing against Italy at the World Grand Champions Cup in Tokyo on Sunday, who finished behind Brazil and USA. Head coach Tatsuya Ueta said the focus had already shifted to the World Championships. "The World Grand Champions Cup is over and we are now working towards the World Championships next year", he stated, "I was very excited during the draw with a small amount of good tension."

The women's tournament will be held next year with the four groups being: Pool A: Korea, Poland, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Kenya, Costa Rica. Pool B: China, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Russia, Germany, Azerbaijan. Pool C: Netherlands, USA, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, Cameroon. Pool D: Italy, Peru, Turkey, Cuba, Egypt, Serbia Montenegro.

Italy won the women's crown for the first time in Berlin in 2002, after two straight titles for Cuba, a three-time former world champion. Japan's women won the last of their three world crowns in 1974, and will play fellow three-time former world champions Cuba in Pool D.
On the conclusion of the draw Japan's head coach Shoichi Yanagimoto said: "I felt alright after the draw was completed. We are going to make it next year."

For further information please view www.fivb.org
The championships will take place from 31st October to 3rd December 2006 in 12 venues in ten cities.

The 500-strong gathering was welcomed by Masao Tachiki, President of the Japan Volleyball Association and of the organising committee, and by Hiroshi Inoue, President of host broadcaster TBS and Honorary President of the organising committee. They pledged to give the FIVB their full support in making the 2006 World Championships a memorable occasion for Japan and for volleyball.
FIVB President Dr. Acosta began and ended his address with a smattering of Japanese: "konichiwa" (good day) and "domo arigato gozaimasu" (thank you very much), saying that a record 174 countries and regions had taken part in qualifying matches watched by more than 600’000 fans around the world.
Among the VIP guests were IOC member Shunichiro Okano, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and President of FIVB sponsor Mikasa, Taketoshi Saeki.