CALLICOTT Richard OBE (GBR) – PVE – Pioneer and supporter of standing and sitting volleyball in GBR and Internationally from 1970-present, in the field of event organisation and governance. Member of WPV Judicial Commission

CALLICOTT Richard OBE – GBR (PVE)

CALLICOTT

Richard’s initial involvement started with WOVD back in the 1970s as President of Volleyball England when they initiated a Tournament for people with disabilities (Ray Tingley event) in London. At that time it was standing volleyball and great progress was made under the Coaching of Gordon Neale. That progress continued throughout the 1980s as they were on the threshold of qualifying for the 1992 Paralympic Games until the British Paralympic Association decided they would not send the team that had qualified. It wasn’t until sitting volleyball came to the fore that they again started to make progress from a low point until the London Games 2012 when they were able to persuade the BPA to ensure they were entered for both men and women. It helped that he was a Board member of the BPA by then and he was able to make sure that they did not follow the same route as 1992. Since 2012 they have started up a Grand Prix series for sitting volleyball teams which is growing, and started up a British men’s and Women’s team programme with funding from UKSport. This is the first funding since 2009. The programme under Ian le Grand is planning competition into European and World events having already played in a number of events in the years pre-pandemic.

His inspiration was the late Ray Tingley and Gordon Neale. Gordon for his sheer persistence and patience and determination and skill. His commitment to sport for people with disabilities or impairments has grown over the years

He attended the WOVD congress in The Netherlands in 2008, which made him determined to ensure that people with disabilities would not be forgotten again and that it would be an essential part of the work of Volleyball England. Now the British Volleyball Federation have established Sitting volleyball as part of their everyday work, with a former player now a member of the Board of the BVF and with a performance management group which has sitting volleyball as part of that group. He attended the Sydney, Beijing and Rio Games where he attended the Sitting Volleyball programme of games.
He has worked in administration(governance) and event organisation since 1970.

Event involvement:

Outstanding service to Volleyball by the FIVB in 2016
The British Association of Sports Administrators outstanding contribution 2003
CCPR(national Sports NGBs organisation) Arthur Ellis Award for outstanding leadership
Honorary President of Volleyball England 2005 to present day
Presidency of Commonwealth Beach Volleyball 2011 to present day
Chair of Judicial Committee of World ParaVolley

Official posts held:

Chair Commonwealth Beach Volleyball
President FIVB Ethics Panel
Chair World ParaVolley Judicial Committee
President British Volleyball Federation
Former Vice President of European Volleyball
Chair/President Volleyball England 1981-1993 and 2005-2013
Formerly Head of Sport Birmingham City Council, Head of Sport National Indoor Arena and Chief Executive Officer UKSport

“Richard has been a true comrade from the birth of sitting and standing volleyball in Great Britain in the early ’70s. His contribution and commitment to each of these roles has been outstanding and recognised worldwide. His valued support of the development of sitting and standing volleyball especially at government level undoubtedly enhanced the progress within the sport. Richard now, through the British Volleyball Federation continues to add further value to our sport, including as the chair of the WPV Judicial Commission.”

– Gordon Neale OBE