The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT), and the Chandigarh Administration have officially inaugurated the Udaan School Volleyball Programme. This significant initiative aims to integrate volleyball into the school sports curriculum, fostering widespread participation throughout the region.
This new programme follows the successful Knowledge Transfer Programme, conducted from August 18-22. During this period, acclaimed FIVB instructors John Kessel and Jana Kulan trained 120 physical education teachers from 108 government schools. Over five days, these educators acquired essential volleyball techniques, effective teaching methodologies, and a deep understanding of Olympic values. This training empowers them to reach and influence over 140,000 students in Chandigarh, with many schools promptly starting volleyball sessions the day after the training concluded, demonstrating immediate positive reception.
The launch ceremony attracted prominent personalities from international sports and the Chandigarh Administration. Attendees included Olympic gold medalist and ABFT Founder Abhinav Bindra (who also serves as IOC Athletes’ Commission Vice Chair), FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, and FIVB General Sports Director Steve Tutton. Key figures from the Chandigarh Administration were also present: Prerna Puri (IAS Secretary of Education and Sports), H.P.S. Brar (IAS Director of School Education), and Sorabh Kumar Arora (PCS Director Sports). All parties reiterated their dedication to establishing volleyball as a core element of school activities in Chandigarh. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed by all participating stakeholders and the FIVB Volleyball Foundation to mark the occasion.
The event not only highlighted volleyball`s athletic appeal but also its broader impact. Students presented vivid `Volleyball Through Art` pieces, creatively merging the sport with themes of aspirations, collaboration, and Olympic principles.
Teachers shared testimonials about their experiences from the Knowledge Transfer Programme, emphasizing how the training techniques and equipment support from FIVB and ABFT are already revolutionizing volleyball sessions within their respective schools.
Attendees also engaged in a question-and-answer session with Abhinav Bindra and Fabio Azevedo.
Abhinav Bindra on Sport`s Transformative Role
During his address, Abhinav Bindra highlighted sport`s profound impact on education. He stated:
“Our goal with this programme is to equip teachers throughout the region with the skills to become effective volleyball coaches, thereby enabling children to embrace sports. Sport cultivates resilience, trust, camaraderie, and creativity, ideally instilling a lifelong passion for physical activity in young individuals. By combining Olympic values with practical volleyball training, we are providing students with both fundamental playing abilities and vital life skills. The enthusiastic involvement from teachers and schools across Chandigarh has been incredibly gratifying, and we eagerly anticipate its sustained growth.”
FIVB President Fabio Azevedo on Global Volleyball Movement
FIVB President Fabio Azevedo lauded the initiative as a crucial advancement for the Global Volleyball Movement. He commented:
“The FIVB is immensely proud to collaborate with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, the Chandigarh Government, the Olympic Values Education Programme, and the Volleyball Foundation to launch the Udaan School Volleyball Programme, making volleyball more accessible than ever. Volleyball inherently promotes collaboration, integration, peace, and solidarity, and this initiative empowers both teachers and children to embody these values. The rapid positive effects observed in schools underscore the strength of our partnership, and we are optimistic that this project will motivate countless young athletes to engage with volleyball and become part of the worldwide volleyball community.”
Subsequent to the main event, Fabio Azevedo visited several schools benefiting from the Udaan School Volleyball Programme, which provides knowledge transfer and equipment. He interacted with school members to gather insights on volleyball`s influence within their communities.
Looking forward, the Udaan Programme will receive ongoing structured support, monitoring, and resources. Future plans encompass consistent volleyball sessions in all involved schools, the establishment of both inter and intra-school tournaments, a digital platform for tracking school progress, and expanded community access to school courts for after-hours volleyball.
The official launch of the Udaan School Volleyball Programme signifies a major leap forward for grassroots volleyball development in India. This collaboration between FIVB, ABFT, and the Chandigarh Administration is poised to empower thousands of teachers and young athletes, enabling them to excel through the sport of volleyball.
