On Saturday, members of the Czech Volleyball community gathered at the International Hotel Prague for the General Assembly of the Czech Volleyball Federation (CVF). This key event, held only once every four years, is pivotal in shaping the future direction of Czech Volleyball. The assembly saw a record attendance of 150 delegates with voting rights, alongside numerous international guests.
CEV President Roko Sikirić was among the distinguished international attendees and delivered an address. He commended Czech Volleyball for its extensive history, notable achievements, and its role as a key foundation (“cradle”) for European Volleyball.
The General Assembly was officially opened by the President of the Czech Volleyball Federation, Marek Pakosta. In his opening remarks, he welcomed both the attending delegates and the many notable guests present. These included CEV First Vice President Ivan Knezevic, MEVZA President Valentina Bifflin, and the Presidents of the National Federations of Serbia, Hungary, and Montenegro, in addition to the CEV President.
Following the welcomes, the General Assembly bodies were elected, and President Pakosta presented a report summarizing the Federation`s activities during his previous term.
The primary focus of the agenda was the election of the new leadership for the CVF. Marek Pakosta was confirmed by the delegates to serve a third term at the head of the organization.
Following his re-election, Pakosta stated, “I wish to express my gratitude to everyone for their trust, which I value immensely. It is both an honor and a significant responsibility for me to lead such a large and successful association. I eagerly anticipate continuing my collaboration with my colleagues in the CVF leadership over the coming period. Together, we will further advance Czech Volleyball and work towards achieving new objectives. My personal aspiration and strong motivation are for Czech Volleyball to maintain and strengthen its current position as the third most popular team sport in the country, while also enhancing its respect and standing on the international stage.”
The delegates also elected the other twelve members of the CVF Management Committee: Daniel Bartek, Martin Gerža, Ing. Radek Hacaperka, Aneta Havlíčková, MUDr. Petr Juda, Jakub Lejsek, Roman Macek, MUDr. Vít Mařík, Bc. Jakub Novotný, Vavřinec Pečinka, Petr Šotola, and Ing. Tomáš Zedník. This newly formed statutory body of the CVF consists of 13 members, representing various areas including the women’s extraliga, men’s extraliga, Beach Volleyball, and others. In a subsequent session, new members were elected to the Control and Revision Commission of the CVF: Vladimír Tabara, Ing. Jiří Čermák, Ing. Jiří Kmoníček, Josef Klapal, and Petr Beran.
Constructive Atmosphere and Clear Future Goals
The General Assembly proceeded in a very cordial and productive atmosphere. This was particularly evident during the concluding discussion, where delegates had the opportunity to share their feedback and requests with the CVF leadership.
Marek Pakosta, himself a former successful Volleyball player and Olympian, has been at the helm of the Czech Volleyball Federation since 2017. His tenure has seen several significant accomplishments, including the successful organization of international tournaments, improved financial stability, strong results internationally, and enhanced support for youth categories.
Outlining the path ahead, Pakosta added at the conclusion of his speech, “Further challenges await us. In addressing these, I will again rely on the collaboration and support of both the entire CVF Management Committee and my colleagues throughout our association. We aim to continue strengthening our financial independence and stability, achieve competitive sporting results on the international stage, and concurrently foster the development of Volleyball at all lower levels. A crucial focus will be developing a new strategy for media coverage of Volleyball to attract new fans and elevate the overall value of Czech Volleyball’s offerings. Furthermore, we will persist in modernizing IT systems and applications, including contemporary e-registration.”
The Czech Volleyball Federation convenes an elective General Assembly every four years, always held after the Olympic Games. As the federation’s highest governing body, it is responsible for determining long-term strategies, key objectives, and electing the leadership.
Delegates departed from Saturday’s meeting not only with updated information but, importantly, with a sense of positive energy and renewed motivation for continued collaborative efforts. With its leadership confirmed and clear objectives defined, Czech Volleyball begins the next cycle with optimism and commitment to the established direction.
The subsequent General Assembly of the Czech Volleyball Federation is scheduled for 2029, at which time the current leadership will report on its progress, and delegates will decide on the future course of the federation.
Torin Vale