The International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) honoured its induction class of 2025, on October 18 in Holyoke, USA, the birthplace of volleyball. The class includes nine members across seven different areas of the sport who set the standard and made history en route to being honored with this prestigious recognition.
Mr. Barry Couzner OAM, former President of World ParaVolley (2014-2023), was one of the inductees, and rightly so!
From the IVHF: “For his visionary leadership and dedication to advancing ParaVolley worldwide, the International Volleyball Hall of Fame is proud to induct Barry Couzner in the ParaVolley category.”
The highlights of his time at the helm of World ParaVolley include:
- Stabilising the role of President since 30 October 2014 – his first meeting as President
- Chairing and attending 43 Board meetings
- Acting as TD and Jury for many international events since the year 2000
- Implementing ITO uniforms, grey and blue
- Negotiating homologation contracts with 5 international Companies over an 8 year period
- Continuing a financial surplus
- Initiating the Recognition and Awards system
- Awarding 15 Honorary Life Memberships
- Initiating International World ParaVolley Day on 24 April each year
- Initiating the Zone Confederation Regulations
- Supporting the creation, development and update of WPV Commissions and Committees
- Supporting the History Committee and the Awards Committee in particular
- Commencing the involvement of athletes on the Board since the 2018 GA
- Initiating the establishment of World ParaVolley Development Centres
- Starting the World Super 6 competitions of which 4 have been delivered to date
- Starting the Final Qualifiers concept for PG and WCs
- Providing a focus on Standing Beach ParaVolley as a second discipline
- Developing WPV’s international relationships with IPC, APSO, FIVB, World Abilitysport, the Asian Paralympic Committee, The General Syndicate of Sports Professionals and Beijing Sport University
- Assisting with the process of identifying hosts for many of WPV’s portfolio of international competitions
- Updating WPV Governance Policy development
Couzner’s influence on volleyball extends well beyond ParaVolley. He served as President of Volleyball Australia (1988–1997), President of the Oceania Volleyball Zonal Association, Executive Vice-President of the Asian Volleyball Confederation, and as a member of the FIVB Board of Administration. In each role, he was a driving force in advancing the sport’s reach and organizational strength.
He also played a key role on one of volleyball’s greatest stages, serving as the Volleyball Competition Manager for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ensuring world-class events that left a lasting legacy. In recognition of his contributions, the Australian Government awarded him the Order of Australia medal in 2008.
This honour followed Mr. Couzner’s having had World ParaVolley’s highest recognition bestowed upon him, the Honorary Life Membership, in a special ceremony held during the 2025 Asia-Oceania Sitting Volleyball Zone Championships in Hangzhou, China in June 2025. The Life Membership was presented by current World ParaVolley President Juergen Schrapp, who praised Couzner’s extraordinary leadership and lifelong dedication to the sport of volleyball for people with disabilities.
“Barry is a true icon in the Paravolley world,” said Schrapp, in handing over the award. “His unparalleled contributions—both on national and international levels—continue to inspire all of us, and his legacy is embedded in the very structure of World ParaVolley.”