Volleyball Nations League Finals: World class volleyball in Turin again

Turin, Italy, January 22, 2020 – After hosting the 2015 Men’s European Volleyball Championship Final and the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Finals, PalaAlpitour is ready to stage more world class volleyball: coach Blengini’s “Azzurri” await their five challengers for the 2020 VNL. Tickets will be available from February.
 
World class volleyball will return to Turin when PalaAlpitour hosts the FIVB 2020 Men’s Volleyball Nations League from 1-5 July, 2020.

Italy will battle it out against five of the world’s best national teams in the third edition of the VNL, as Torino becomes the international capital of volleyball for the third time in five years, having recently hosted the 2015 Men’s European Volleyball Championship Final and the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Finals.

The VNL group stages will commence on 22 May, with pool stages bringing the action closer to fans around the world. Over five consecutive weekends, 16 men’s national teams will play in a round robin format before the top five ranked sides join hosts Italy in the Finals.

The format of the Finals is simple: two groups of three teams each will decide the four semifinalists. The PalaAlpitour Arena in Turin is ready to welcome the “Azzurri”, led by coach Gianlorenzo “Chicco” Blengini, with a capacity of 13,000 seats in one of the most modern indoor sports facilities in Europe.

Tickets for the five-day international event will be available from February. The announcement of Turin as hosts of the Men’s VNL Finals was made today in Palazzo Madama, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to Turin’s Civic Museum of Ancient Art. The Palazzo Madama was once part of the Residences that belonged to the Royal Family of Savoia.

From left to right: Italy coach Gianlorenzo Blengini, FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça Fᵒ, Mayor of Torino Chiara Appendino, Deputy for Sport Activities Fabrizio Ricca, CEO of RCS Sport Paolo Bellino.

Following the announcement, Dr Ary S. Graça Fᵒ, FIVB President said:

I am delighted that volleyball is once again returning to Turin. A city famous all over the world for its passionate sports fans, we have already seen the incredible atmosphere that Italian volleyball supporters create. The VNL is a revolutionary event that puts fans at the heart of the action, and I have no doubt that the Men’s finals will be an unforgettable experience for the athletes, coaches and fans.

Paolo Bellino, CEO of RCS Sport, said:

“Volleyball is one of the most practiced sports in Italy, by both women and men, and the Italian volleyball teams are among the most successful in international competitions. In this Olympic year, it is an honour for us to gather the best teams in the World in Torino, and it will provide the perfect stage for the Italian fans to cheer on their team, ahead of the challenge for the Gold medal in Tokyo.

“In Torino, as well as across the whole Region of Piemonte, volleyball has a large fan base, and the VNL has the potential to capture the attention of the whole world for five very exciting days.

Pietro Bruno Cattaneo, President of the Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV), stated:

“The Italian Volleyball Federation happily welcomes the 2020 VNL Men’s Finals to Torino. I am sure that the major city of Piemonte and the PalaAlpitour Arena will be up to the task: we all remember the incredible success of the 2018 World Championship in terms of attendance and atmosphere. It was an edition that was remarkable for warm welcoming and organisation, and I have no doubt that we will see the same success in 2020.”

Alberto Cirio, Governor of Region Piemonte, alongside Deputy for Sport Activities, Fabrizio Ricca, said:

“The 2020 Men’s VNL Finals will bring an elite level of sports event to Torino and gather top class athletes from around the world, alongside passionate fans from Italy and abroad. Top level sport is a key resource for our region and we will keep working to welcome many other events of this calibre here, as they are not only a source of spectacle for the fans, but also a resource for our local economy.”

Chiara Appendino, Mayor of Torino said:

“I am very proud to have the 2020 VNL Men’s Finals in Torino: it’s been less than two years since we hosted the Final Six of the World Championship in the PalaAlpitour, and I can clearly remember the thrilling atmosphere and the enthusiasm of my fellow citizens. I am positive that they will feel the same next July. Torino will, as usual, work hard to grant a perfect experience to all the teams and the fans, as a widely recognised capital city of sports always does.

“Torino is a place where talent is nourished and great events reach their full potential, thanks to the solid base of community values that accompanies us towards the future. I want to thank in advance the many people who will make the 2020 VNL Men’s Finals possible.”

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Source: Volley - fivb.org