The celebration of the International World ParaVolley Day commemorates the official start of the International Federation. On 24 April 1981, World ParaVolley was formally created at a meeting in Bonn, Germany on the occasion of the European Sitting Volleyball Championships.
The current World ParaVolley Board of Directors has approved that International World ParaVolley Day be celebrated annually on 24 April.
This year, World ParaVolley will celebrate the occasion by recognising individuals for their contribution to standing volleyball.
Categories:
World ParaVolley recognises the individuals who have achieved outstanding and extraordinary success as competitors in standing volleyball.
MIKAEL BARTHOLDY (CAN)
• Won silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Three-time World Championship gold medallist.
• Travelled to Cambodia with five other Canadian team members to compete in the Asia-Oceania Development Cup and help provide instruction to the players and coaches of the Cambodian National Volleyball League for the Disabled.
Full profile
DOMINIQUE BIZIMANA (RWA)
• A pioneer of standing volleyball in Rwanda.
• Former captain of the Rwandan national team that competed in two World Championships and the World Cup.
• Member of the Standing Volleyball Development Commission.
Full profile
AHARON DANZIGER (ISR)
• Started playing standing volleyball for Israel at the World Championships in Germany in 1976.
• Standing volleyball player from 1976-1996 and won three gold medals and one silver medal at the Paralympic Games.
• Classifier at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Full profile
GERARD DILLON (GBR)
• Represented GBR in standing volleyball at four Paralympics Games (1994, 1988, 1992 and 1996).
• Best GBR young player at the 1984 Paralympics.
• Won bronze medal at the World Standing Volleyball Championships in Las Vegas in 1989.
Full profile
LAWRENCE FLYNN (CAN)
• Sitting volleyball athlete from 1991-2001.
• Participated in three World Championships and the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Coach from 2001 to 2014.
Full profile
JOSEF GIEBEL (GER)
• Represented Germany since 1983.
• Won three consecutive Paralympic gold medals (1988, 1992, 1996).
• Awarded with the Silver Laurel Leaf in 1992 and 1996.
Full profile
PAVO GRGIC (GER)
• Won his first standing volleyball gold medal at the 1990 World Championship.
• Won three consecutive Paralympic gold medals (1992, 1996, 2000).
• Awarded with the Silver Laurel Leaf in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
Full profile
OLIVER GUTFLEISCH (GER)
• Gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won several gold, silver and bronze medals with Germany at World, European Championships, as well as World Cups.
• Awarded with the Silver Laurel Leaf in 2000.
Full profile
OLAF HAENSEL (GER)
• Made his debut in 2002 at the World Cup in Wisla, Poland.
• Won four World Championship titles.
• All-Star team member in 2003 and was named Most Outstanding Blocker.
Full profile
GEOFF HAMMOND (CAN)
• Joined the Canadian team in 1999.
• Silver medallist at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won three World Championship and one World Cup titles.
Full profile
BERND HEINRICH (GER)
• Made his debut in 1983 and won a silver at the World Championship.
• Won three consecutive Paralympic gold medals (1988, 1992, 2000) after winning a silver (1984).
• Awarded with the Silver Laurel Leaf in 1988, 1992, 2000.
Full profile
ANDRZEJ IWANIAK (POL)
• Olympian brother Stanislaw Ivaniak urged him to play volleyball.
• Won a silver medal (1992) and two bronze medals (1988 and 1996) at the Paralympic Games.
• Won three World Championship titles.
Full profile
NEIL JOHNSON (CAN)
• He was selected to play for the Canadian standing volleyball team at age 16.
• Silver medallist at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won three World Championship and one World Cup titles.
Full profile
STEFAN KAISER (GER)
• Won two gold medals at the Paralympic Games (1992 and 1996).
• Won two silver medals at the World Championships (1994 and 1998).
• Awarded with the Silver Laurel Leaf in 1992 and 1996.
Full profile
ELIEZER KALINA (ISR)
• Represented Israel from 1976-2000.
• Won three gold medals (1976, 1980, 1984) and a silver medal (1988) at the Paralympic Games.
• Won two World Championship titles (1976 and 1979)
Full profile
ROBERT KAMPCZYK (GER)
• Won the World Championship title in 2008 after winning silver (2006) and bronze (2004).
• Won three World Cup titles (2006, 2009, 2011).
• Named Best Attacker in the World Cup in 2009 and 2011.
Full profile
ZVIKA KARSH (ISR)
• Represented Israel from 1976-2000.
• Won three gold medals (1976, 1980, 1984) and a silver medal (1988) at the Paralympic Games.
• Won two World Championship titles (1976 and 1979)
Full profile
MANFRED KOHL (GER)
• Won four consecutive gold medals at the Paralympic Games (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000).
• Won two World Championship titles.
• Awarded with the Silver Laurel Leaf in 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000.
Full profile
JACEK KRUSZELNICKI (POL)
• Started standing volleyball in 1985 at the school for rehabilitation in Wroclaw.
• Won a silver medal (1992) and two bronze medals (1988 and 1996) at the Paralympic Games.
• Won three World Championship titles.
Full profile
NURALY KULUSHOV (KAZ)
• Played at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games.
• Played at the World Cup in 2009 and 2011.
• Played in both disciplines of standing volleyball and sitting volleyball.
Full profile
DENNIS LEE (USA)
• Started standing volleyball in 1987 at Hofstra University in New York.
• Former captain of the USA team at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games.
• Two-time Paralympian in standing volleyball – Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.
Full profile
VEASNA MAN (CAM)
• Started playing standing volleyball in 1998 as a member of the CNVLD standing volleyball programme.
• Played at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won a World Cup silver medal in 2011 after winning two bronze medals in 2007 and 2009.
Full profile
LARRY MATTHEWS (CAN)
• Started playing for Team Canada in 1994.
• Won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won three World Championship titles (2002, 2004, 2006) and one World Cup title (2005).
Full profile
DAVID McCRAE (GBR)
• Started playing for Team GBR in 1979 at age 16.
• Four-time Paralympian (1980, 1984, 1992, 1996) in standing volleyball.
• Won a bronze medal at the 1989 World Championship.
Full profile
JASON MIGCHELS (CAN)
• Played standing volleyball from 1997 to 2006.
• Won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won three World Championship titles (2002, 2004, 2006) and one World Cup title (2005).
Full profile
JOSEF MIHALCO (SVK)
• Played standing volleyball from 1985 to 2011.
• Won a bronze medal at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games for Team Czechoslovakia.
• Won a silver medal at Atlanta 1996 and bronze medal Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games for Team Slovakia.
Full profile
PETER MORAVČÍK (SVK)
• Played standing volleyball from 1991 to 2011.
• Won a bronze medal at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games for Team Czechoslovakia.
• Won a silver medal at Atlanta 1996 and bronze medal Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games for Team Slovakia.
Full profile
PIOTR MOSZCZYNSKI (POL)
• Started playing in 1991 when he met Andrzej Iwaniak who convinced him to play.
• Two-time Paralympian in standing volleyball with one silver medal at Atlanta 1996.
• Won two World Championship titles (1994 and 1998)
Full profile
JAROMIR MOURECEK (CZE)
• Two time-Paralympian in standing volleyball (1992 – Czechoslovakia, 1996 – Czech Republic) with one silver medal at Barcelona 1992 (Team Czechoslovakia).
• Won a bronze medal at the 1990 World Championship.
• Awarded Best Setter at the 1990 World Championship.
Full profile
DAVE NEWKIRK (USA)
• Member of the USA men’s sitting volleyball team from 1990 to 2004.
• Captain of USA team from 1997 to 2000.
• Three-time Paralympian in standing volleyball (1992, 1996, 2000).
Full profile
ĽUBOMÍR NOVOSÁD (SVK)
• Played standing volleyball from 1987 to 2011.
• Three-time Paralympian in standing volleyball with one bronze medal for Czechoslovakia at Barcelona 1992 and silver medal and bronze medal for Slovakia at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, respectively.
• Named Best Setter multiple times at the Paralympic Games, World Championships and European Championship.
Full profile
SARETH NUON (CAM)
• Played standing volleyball from 1999 to 2011.
• Played at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won a World Cup silver medal in 2011 after winning two bronze medals in 2007 and 2009.
Full profile
ANTON PROBST (GER)
• Played 25 international standing volleyball matches for Germany, which won gold at the Seoul 1998 Paralympics before he became a referee in 1990; retired in 2015.
• Made his debut at the 1986 World Championship in Israel.
• Officiated in six Paralympic Games, including three sitting volleyball competitions in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta, 1996, Sydney 2000.
Full profile
JOHN PRZYBYSZEWSKI (CAN)
• Played standing volleyball from 1989 to 2005.
• Won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won two World Championship titles (2002 and 2004) and one World Cup title (2005).
Full profile
KARL QUADE (GER)
• Played standing volleyball from 1983 to 1994.
• Played in two Paralympic Games with one silver (1984) and one gold medal (1988).
• Won three World Championship titles (1985, 1989, 1990).
Full profile
TONY QUARIN (CAN)
• Played in three World Championships with two gold medals (2002 and 2004).
• Played in two World Cups with a silver medal (2003) and gold medal (2005).
• Won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Full profile
CHRIS RODWAY (CAN)
• Won three World Championship titles (2002, 2004, 2006).
• Played in three World Cups with a silver medal (2003) and gold medal (2005).
• Won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Full profile
BERNARD SCHMIDL (GER)
• Played standing volleyball from 1988 to 2000.
• Won three gold medals at the Paralympic Games (1992, 2996, 2000).
• Awarded with the Silver Laurel Leaf in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
Full profile
PAVOL SEDLAK (SVK)
• Played standing volleyball from 1991 to 2011.
• Won a silver medal (1996) and a bronze medal (2000) at the Paralympic Games.
• Won a silver medal (2004) and three bronze medals (1998, 2002, 2006) at the World Championships and two World Cup titles (2003 and 2001).
Full profile
CHRIS SEILKOP (USA)
• Played in two Paralympic Games (1996 and 2002) as a starter.
• Played in two World Championship editions (1998 and 2002).
• Named Best Blocker at the 1998 World Championship.
Full profile
ELLMAR SOMMER (GER)
• Played for Germany from 1983 to 2001.
• Won three gold medals at the Paralympic Games (1992, 2996, 2000).
• Awarded with the Silver Laurel Leaf in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
Full profile
JOEY STABNER (CAN)
• Played standing volleyball from 1985 to 2005.
• Won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Won two World Championship titles (2002 and 2004) and one World Cup title (2005).
Full profile
JOE SULLIVAN (USA)
• Captain of USA standing volleyball team from 1998 to 2002.
• Played in two Paralympic Games (1996 and 2000).
• Named USA standing teams Most Improved Player in 1995.
Full profile
JEFF WERNER (USA)
• Played for the USA team from 1995 to 2003.
• Played in two Paralympic Games (1996 and 2000).
• Named Most Outstanding Spiker at the 1998 World Championship.
Full profile
TOMASZ WOZNY (POL)
• Played in two Paralympic Games with one silver medal at Atlanta 1996.
• Won one World Championship title in 1998.
• Won a bronze medal at the 2001 World Cup.
Full profile
HAGAI ZAMIR (ISR)
• Played in seven Paralympic Games (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000)
• Won three gold medals (1976, 1980, 1984) and a silver medal (1988) at the Paralympic Games.
• Captain of Israel from 1976 to 2000.
Full profile
CHEN ZHUR (ISR)
• Played in three Paralympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000).
• Named Best Server at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games.
• Played in three World Championships (1990, 1993, 2002).
Full profile
World ParaVolley recognises the individuals who have achieved outstanding and extraordinary success as coaches in standing volleyball.
CALVIN AUBIN (CAN)
• Coached the Canadian team that won silver at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Steered Canada to win three World Championship titles (2002, 2004, 2006) and World Cup title (2005).
• Named Best Coach at the 2002 World Championship – the last year this was awarded.
Full profile
ZYGMUNT GORA (POL)
• Started standing volleyball in the mid 80s in Lodz.
• Coached Poland at four Paralympic Games (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000), with one silver medal (1992) and two bronze medal finishes (1988, 1996).
• Led Poland to win three World Championship titles (1986, 1994, 1998) and two silver medals (1990, 2002).
Full profile
HELENA HANKOVA (SVK)
• Coached Czechoslovakia to bronze medal finishes at the 1990 World Championships, 1991 European Championships, Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games.
• Coached Slovakia to win two Paralympic Games medals – silver at Atlanta 1996 and bronze at Sydney 2000.
• Led Slovakia to win two World Cup titles (2001, 2003).
Full profile
ZDENEK NOVAK (CZE)
• Started as an assistant coach for the Czechoslovakian national team in 1989 and then as head coach of the Czech Republic in 1992.
• Assisted Helena Hankova to lead Czechoslovakia to bronze medal finishes at the 1990 World Championships, 1991 European Championships, Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games.
• Coached Czech Republic in one edition of the Paralympic Games (1996) and two editions of the World Championships (1994, 1998).
Full profile
ATHANASIOS PAPAGEORGIOU (GER)
• Head coach of Germany from 1983 to 2011.
• Led Germany to win four Paralympic Games gold medals – Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
• Steered Germany to win four World Championship titles (1985, 1989, 1990, 2008) and five World Cup titles (1993, 1995, 2007, 2009, 2011).
Full profile
ELIYAHU RABINA (ISR)
• Head coach of Israel from 1980 to 1996.
• Coached Israel in five editions of the Paralympic Games, winning two gold medals (1980, 1984) and a silver medal (1988).
• Helped Israel earn two silver medal finishes at the World Championships (1986
Full profile
World ParaVolley recognises the amount of work and years of contribution in the development of officiating standing volleyball matches through modification or changes in Rules of the Game, and commitment to promotion of fair play and development of international referees.
JOE CAMPBELL (USA)
• Attended an international referee course in Great Britain in 1992, when he started his career in standing volleyball.
• Officiated sitting volleyball matches at Barcelona 1992 Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004.
• PVPA Referee Commissioner from 1994 to 2012, currently the PVPA president and WPV Board member.
Full profile
ANDY DAVISON (AUS)
• Started officiating standing volleyball from 1999 to 2012.
• Officiated at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and three World Cup editions (2007, 2009, 2011).
• Named Referee of the Tournament at the 2007 World Cup.
Full profile
DUSAN DOVICOVIC (SVK)
• He was involved in standing volleyball attending the World Championships held in Cambodia as well as the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games .
• He was a member of the Refereeing Commission at the Slovak Volleyball Federation and also acted as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Slovak Association of Volleyball Referees
• He officiated at the 1998 World Championships and four editions of the World Cup (1999, 2001, 2003, 2007).
Full profile
PIERRE FARMER (CAN)
• Started standing volleyball refereeing career from 1995 to 2011.
• Officiated Paralympic Games matches at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
• World ParaVolley referee course instructor and Referee Commission secretary.
Full profile
FRITS KLEIN (NED)
• Started standing volleyball refereeing career from 1989 to 1999.
• Officiated matches at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
• He was a technical official from 1996 to 2000.
Full profile
DENIS LE BREUILLY (GBR)
• WOVD/WPV secretary of Referees Commission and chairman of Rules of the Game Commission.
• Had an lllustrious career as an International Referee and Referee Delegate.
• Referee Delegate at major events including the Paralympic Games.
Full profile
GABY LOTAN (ISR)
• Became a referee in 1971 and became a standing volleyball international referee in 1991.
• Officiated matches at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Awarded World ParaVolley Honorary Life Membership in 2018
Full profile
GORDON NEALE OBE (GBR)
• World ParaVolley (WOVD/ISOD) career spans over 34 years (1984 to 2020).
• Became the first sitting volleyball and standing volleyball international referee from Great Britain.
• Officiated at Paralympic Games (sitting volleyball and standing volleyball).
Full profile
JANKO PLEŠNIK (SLO)
• Started officiating standing volleyball events in 2000.
• Officiated at standing volleyball matches at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Officiated three gold medal matches and one bronze medal match before retiring from standing when events ceased in 2011.
Full profile
ANTON PROBST (GER)
• Played 25 international standing volleyball matches for Germany, which won gold at the Seoul 1998 Paralympics before he became a referee in 1990; retired in 2015.
• Officiated in six Paralympic Games, including standing volleyball events at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta, 1996 and Sydney 2000.
• Stopped involvement in standing volleyball in 2006 at the Triple World Championships in Roermond, Netherlands.
Full profile
GYULA RÀDI (HUN)
• Standing volleyball referee since 1982 and since becoming part of the ISOD Board as Technical Officer in 1984, he had been involved in drafting regulations, rules and managing the referee corps.
• Officiated almost 100 matches between 1982 and 1991, including the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games final.
• Referee Delegate at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.
Full profile
RADU ROSENTHAL (ISR)
• Israeli Army veteran whose injury in 1971 led him to introduce volleyball for the disabled in his country.
• Chairman of Referees Commission in WOVD in charge of nominating International Referees for competitions, including the Paralympic Games.
• Instrumental in growing the number of International Referees in the sport through conduct of referee courses.
Full profile
World ParaVolley recognises the individuals who have achieved success in educating and training International Classifiers of delivering high quality classification services for ParaVolley athletes. Their professional skills, knowledge and experience have provided the World ParaVolley with great honour as they delivered classification evaluation at the highest possible standard.
JENNI COLE (AUS)
• First standing volleyball event was the 1997 World Championships in Olsztyn, Poland.
• International Classifier at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• Involved with classification from 1997 to present but her last standing volleyball duty was in 2011.
Full profile
AHARON DANZIGER (ISR)
• Being an amputee player, he was also an Orthopaedist physician/doctor and classifier.
• Acted as consultant on the development of Standing Volleyball Classification System.
• Classifier at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Full profile
SARO KERESTECIYAN (CAN)
• Became an international classifier in 1999.
• Chief Classifier at the 2003 World Championships in Greece.
• Instructor for the WPV Classification Pathway since 1999.
Full profile
JAMIE MING (GBR)
• Classifier at the 2007 World Cup in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• World ParaVolley Chair of Anti-Doping Commission since 2011.
• World ParaVolley International Classifier since 2007.
Full profile
CRISTINA RIERA (ESP)
• Instrumental in transitioning the ParaVolley classification system from points-based to classes of MD / D (sitting) and A,B,C (standing) along with Dr. Aaaron Danziger and Pierre Pinelli in 1997.
• Developed the first ever classification manual and classifier education programme in 2001.
• International Classifier at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
Full profile
JURAJ STEFAK (SVK)
• Started with standing volleyball as Team MD for the Slovak national team in 1994.
• Became a WOVD international classifier in the mid-90s and served as Team MD and classifier until 2011 at the last edition of the Standing Volleyball World Cup.
• Attended many World Championships, World Cups, European Championships and two Paralympic Games as team doctor and classifier.
Full profile
World ParaVolley recognises the outstanding contributions of have served as technical officials in standing volleyball and have shown commitment with their job and shared knowledge of the rules of the sport. Their technical knowledge and commitment have provided the organisation and the events with great integrity.
BARRY COUZNER OAM (AUS)
• Started involvement with standing volleyball at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games as the competition manager.
• Technical Delegate at five editions of the World Cup (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011) and Jury Member at the 2006 Triple World Championships in the Netherlands.
• Chair, World ParaVolley Technical Commission from 2006 to 2014.
Full profile
FRITS KLEIN (NED)
• Standing volleyball technical official from 1996 to 2000.
• Competition Manager in the Paralympic Games (1996, 2000) and World Championships (1998).
• Member of the Referee Commission, European Referee Commission and the Sports Department.
Full profile
DENIS LE BREUILLY (GBR)
• As Sport Director and Technical Official, ensured the continuation of standing volleyball under WPV Rules and Regulations, particularly the World Cups in Cambodia in 2009 and 2011.
• Organiser of Technical Officials courses, Classification, Refereeing and Coaching Courses for World ParaVolley.
• Responsible for initiating, developing and administering the three-level pathway to International for Referees, Coaches, Classifiers and Technical Officials.
Full profile
GORDON NEALE OBE (GBR)
• Jury member, Technical Delegate, Assistant Delegate in international and European events and Paralympic Games.
• Organiser, consultant, lecturer, commentator and CEO of Disability Sport England.
• Member of the British Paralympic Association representing Disabled Volleyball and ensuring opportunities were made available for athletes and officials to take part in disabled volleyball, including standing volleyball.
Full profile
GYULA RÀDI (HUN)
• ISOD Chairman of Technical Committee who was responsible for nominations of referees and referee observers.
• Referee Delegate at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games.
• Organised International Referee Courses.
Full profile
World ParaVolley recognises the outstanding contributions of individuals who have shown accountability and an excellent policy- and decision-making skills for the best interest of the sport. They provide the leadership in their own field of work and act with transparency to all members and stakeholders.
PHIL ALLEN (CAN)
• Started standing volleyball in 2001, when offered a position at Volleyball Canada to manage the ‘Disabled Volleyball Program’.
• Managed all aspects of the Canadian World Champion Men’s Standing Volleyball programme from 2001 to 2007.
• WOVD Volleyball Development Commission member, who actively promoted standing volleyball to WOVD nations; led the application for standing volleyball’s re-inclusion into the Paralympic Games with the Commission from 2002 to 2008.
Full profile
DOMINIQUE BIZIMANA (RWA)
• A pioneer of standing volleyball in Rwanda.
• Former captain of the Rwandan national team that competed in two World Championships and the World Cup.
• Member of the Standing Volleyball Development Commission.
Full profile
JOE CAMPBELL (USA)
• Attended an international referee course in Great Britain in 1992, when he started his career in standing volleyball.
• Officiated sitting volleyball matches at Barcelona 1992 Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004.
• PVPA Referee Commissioner from 1994 to 2012, currently the PVPA president and WPV Board member.
Full profile
BARRY COUZNER OAM (AUS)
• Involvement with World ParaVolley since 2000, providing service in the technical area; currently the WPV president.
• From 2006-2014, involvement included Administration/Governance. After Cambodia 2011, unsuccessful attempts were made to hold a World Cup in Cambodia in 2012 and 2013, when he was involved in the planning for both of these years.
• Extensive history in volleyball as a player, coach, referee, manager and administrator; he was president of Volleyball Australia for 10 years.
Full profile
WITOLD DLUZNIAK (POL)
• In 1989, he became president of the Polish Sports Association for the Disabled “Start” and strongly supported the development of standing volleyball in Poland.
• Supported the Polish men’s national team, which won two medals at the Paralympic Games – silver at Barcelona 1992 and bronze at Atlanta 1996.
• Under his leadership, Poland won two gold medals (Bottrop 1994 and Olsztyn 1998) and two silver medals (Amilly 1990 and Wisla 2002) in the World Championships.
Full profile
HELENA HANKOVA (SVK)
• Chairwoman of the Slovak Sports Association for the Disabled from 1990 to 2002.
• Secretary General of the Slovak Sports Association for the Disabled from 2002 to 2007.
• Chairwoman of the Slovak Paralympic Committee from 1995 to 1999 and was the Chef de Mission at Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games.
Full profile
PIETER JOON (NED)
• Founder and President World Organisation Volleyball for the Disabled from 1980 to 2001
• Member of the Technical Committee Paralympic Games from 1984 to 1992.
• Involvement in the competition programmes in the Paralympics, including Arnhem 1980, Stoke Mandeville and New York 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
Full profile
DENIS LE BREUILLY (GBR)
• Extensive involvement with development of volleyball as coach, referee, tutor and administrator since late 1970s, specifically in volleyball for athletes with a physical impairment since 1992.
• Heavily involved with all aspects of the sport through role as World ParaVolley Sport Director and member of the
Board of Directors.
• Interim General Manager from 2006 to 2008, promoting the continuation of standing volleyball after the discipline was excluded from the Paralympics in 2000 by IPC.
Full profile
YOSKE LUTTENBERG (ISR)
• Vice-President of ISOD.
• Chairman of the Israel Army Veterans Disabled Organization.
• Chairman of the 1986 World Championships Organzing Committee.
Full profile
MONIKA MANIAK-IWANISZEWSKA (POL)
• Involvement in standing volleyball as administrator from 1995 to 2000; retired from standing volleyball in 2004.
• Member of the WOVD Education and Development from 1998 to 2004.
• Awarded with WOVD medal for Organisation at the World Championship in 1998 in Poland.
Full profile
CHRISTOPHER MINKO (CAM)
• Arrived in Cambodia as an Australian Government Technical Advisor with a broad mandate to assist the disabled persons of Cambodia.
• Established the National Paralympic Committee of Cambodia in 1997 and was successfully granted with a wildcard in standing volleyball for Cambodia to participate at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
• WOVD ASEAN Representative
Full profile
GORDON NEALE OBE (GBR)
• Appointed Vice-President of WOVD – retired as VP in 1997.
• Member of the British Paralympic Association representing Disabled Volleyball and ensuring opportunities were made available for athletes and officials to take part in disabled volleyball, including standing volleyball.
• In 2002 was awarded an OBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by the Queen for his outstanding contribution to disabled sport, which included standing volleyball.
Full profile
JUAN PONT (ESP)
• President of WOVD from 2000 to 2004.
• Organised sports seminar for people with disabilities, where then IPC President Philip Craven was the guest of honour.
• Conducted Referee Course in Cuba and the NPC took part in sitting volleyball for the first time at Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.
Full profile
GYULA RADI (HUN)
• Sitting volleyball referee since 1982 and since becoming part of the ISOD Board as Technical Officer in 1984, he had been involved in drafting regulations, rules and managing the referee corps.
• Officiated almost 100 matches between 1982 and 1991, including the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games final.
• Referee Delegate at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.
Full profile
LEN SOFTLEY (GBR)
• Founding member of the Stoke Amputee Athletic Club, which later became the British Amputee Sports Association.
• Developed the first classification system that was used internationally in standing volleyball.
• Elected to and remained a member of ISOD for many years.
Full profile
TOMASZ WOZNY (POL)
• Played in two Paralympic Games with one silver medal at Atlanta 1996.
• President of Integration Sport Club ATAK from 1998 to present.
• Manager and coordinator of disabled volleyball in Poland – Polish Sports Association for the Disabled START from 2001 to 2016.
Full profile
Quick Links:
World ParaVolley
International WorldParaVolley Day
A short story of standing volleyball
2021 World ParaVolley Day Podcast