The pools are all balanced. No pool is too easy and none is too hard.
Agree?
BUT if were to choose the HARDEST POOL aka The Pool Of Death, it would have to be Pool C. USA will most likely be “NORCECA 1” and will face 2 time defending World Champion Russia, Asian Champion Thailand, the improving Dutch squad and Kazakhstan, the team who defeated Kim Yeon Koung and Korea to qualify for the quadrennial tourney.
Pool D too is another tough pool.
Two time defending champions Russia, ranked 6th in the world, face a fascinating first round of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 having been drawn in Pool C to be played in Verona with Thailand (WR12), the Netherlands (WR18), Kazakhstan (WR23) and two NORCECA representatives following the completion of the Drawing of Lots at the Farnese Theatre in Parma on Monday.
A total of 24 countries were drawn across four pools for the first round of the 17th edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, which will be held across six different cities (Trieste, Milan, Modena, Verona, Rome, Bari) in Italy from September 23 to October 12.
The top 12 teams in the world ranking as of January 2014, were placed across the four pools in accordance with the serpentine system. Hosts Italy (world ranking 4) were placed in position 1 before the remaining 11 teams followed.
The remaining 12 teams were drawn across the bottom three positions of each of the four first round pools thanks to the help of Italian volleyball legend Maurizia Cacciatori in front of FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F°, Italy Volleyball Federation President Carlo Magri and FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 Organising Committee President Carlos Salvatori amongst other dignitaries.
In arguably the toughest group, Pool B in Trieste features Olympic champions Brazil (WR1), Serbia (WR7), Turkey (WR11), Cameroon (WR26), Bulgaria (WR35) and one team from NORCECA still to be determined.
Hosts and 2002 champions Italy, ranked 4th in the world, will play Germany (WR9), Argentina (WR18), Croatia (WR24), Tunisia (WR27) and one more team from NORCECA still to be defined in Pool A in Rome.
The fourth and final first-round pool sees the 2010 World Championship bronze medallists Japan (WR3), grouped with China (WR5), Belgium (WR22), Azerbaijan (WR37) and two NORCECA teams to be played in Bari.
Pools for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014
Pool A in Rome – Italy, NORCECA 2, Germany, Argentina, Croatia, Tunisia
Pool B in Trieste – Brazil, Serbia, Turkey, NORCECA 4, Cameroon, Bulgaria
Pool C in Verona – NORCECA 1, Russia, Thailand, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, NORCECA 6
Pool D in Bari – Japan, China, NORCECA 3, NORCECA 5, Belgium, Azerbaijan
The last remaining qualifiers in the NORCECA Confederation will take place from May 12 to June 9. For more info click here.
For the Drawing of Lots Press Kit click here.
A record number of 279 teams participated in the qualification process for the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Championships. This total, coming from 166 national federations across the five FIVB confederations, represents an increase of 65 teams from the previous best of 214 teams from 119 federations for the 2010 World Championships (compared with 102 in 2006, 72 in 2002 and 63 in 1998).
There were 127 teams that have played in the qualification process for the Women’s World Championship.
Russia won their second straight FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship title in Japan in 2010 after beating Brazil in the final. Japan completed the podium after beating USA in the bronze medal match.
For further conversation on the official FIVB Women’s World Championship Twitter account, @FIVBWomensWCH use the hashtag #FIVBWomensWCH. FIVB Facebook fans can also get an inside look at the event leading up to the Championship, including all the details on the Championship trophy. Those who “like” the FIVB on Facebook will discover exclusive content, sure to spark excitement around the world.
Earlier in the day, two new webpages for each of the FIVB Volleyball World Championships were unveiled.
Sleek new design for FIVB Women’s World Championship trophy
With the world watching, the official trophy of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 trophy was unveiled during the Drawing of Lots ceremony at the Farnese Theatre in Parma on Monday.
The trophy’s unique contemporary design has set itself apart from other awards in international sporting competitions.
With brass as its basic material, the women’s trophy weighs close to ten kilos. The trophy changes colour gradually from its base to its crown, moving from nickel to rose gold, exemplifying the winning team growing in confidence as they work through the stages of the Championship. The gold plated crown represents the team’s final achievement of a World Championship title.
Bringing together the best
The coming together of an open minded sports federation, two contemporary product designers and skilled production specialists have made it possible to create something truly extraordinary for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014.
The conceptual design for the trophy was provided by Marco Heer of Achtung!, a creative agency known internationally for their work in brand development. Having worked closely with the FIVB for a number of years, the company was responsible for designing the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 logo on which the design of the trophy was based.
The FIVB then mandated two young product designers from Switzerland, Thilo Alex Brunner and Jörg Mettler to create the new World Championship trophy.
With its unique contemporary design, the trophy has set itself apart from other awards in international sporting competitions.
Eichenberger LTD and their mastermind, Juan Franco, were responsible for its production. The company specialises in complex metal works for the Swiss watchmaking and jewellery industry.
The trophy was unveiled prior to the Drawing of Lots for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Poland 2014, which determined the makeup of the pools in the first round of their year’s tournament.
FIVB President confident Italy will hold ‘best women’s World Championship’ of all time
Taking to the stage at the Drawing of Lots ceremony for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014, President Dr Ary. S. Graça F° expressed his confidence in the host country’s ability to put on the ‘best women’s World Championship’ of all time.
Addressing the audience in Italian, President Graça congratulated organisers on their choice of venue for the Drawing of Lots, which he described as an “outdoor museum”. “It is really an honour and a pleasure to be here with you in this marvellous city and this marvellous country that is Italy,” said Dr. Graça.
Carlo Salvatori, President of the organising committee thanked the local sports authorities and the Italian authorities for their support and underscored that the “civil and social aspects of volleyball are very important.” “We are going to make the best of our activities in order to record success,” he said confidently.
President of the Italian Volleyball Federation and resident of Parma, Carlo Magri, expressed his delight with having the important ceremony held in his home town: “I am very happy because I am here in my city and I would like to thank the authorities who allowed us to organise this event in the venue.” Magri was also pleased to see that “women’s volleyball is very strong” in the country and that it is an “injection of confidence” for Italy to host the world event.
In his address, the Italian Olympic President Giovanni Malago recalled the “beautiful moment” when Italy took the title at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship that was held in Berlin in 2002. Looking forward to this year’s addition of the tournament Malago said, “I am sure that we are going to remember this edition and that it will be unparalled.”
The Drawing of Lots for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 will determine the make-up of the pools in the first round of this year’s tournament. There were 127 teams that played in the Women’s World Championship qualification process for the 2014 edition.
The world’s best 24 teams will compete in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014, which will take place from September 23 to October 12.
Russia topped the podium in 2006 and 2010, while their predecessor, the Soviet Union, took the title in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1970 and 1990.
With the most number of wins in the history of the Championship, Russia is followed by Japan (1962, 1967, 1974) and Cuba (1978, 1994, 1998) with three titles each, China with two (1982, 1986) and hosts Italy with one, which they earned in 2002.
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