World ParaVolley is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Peter Karreman, and extends its heartfelt condolences to Peter’s family and friends through this difficult time.  Peter’s legacy and spirit, though, will most certainly continue to live on through the many lives that he touched.

Peter was a passionate and dedicated leader in the paravolley family for more than two decades.  World ParaVolley was very fortunate to count him among the federation’s leaders – all sports need people like Peter in their midst!

Peter was introduced to the world of sitting volleyball in 2004 by another mover and shaker, Jouke de Haan, and soon discovered and developed his passion for the sport.  Peter was the head coach of the Dutch Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team and the (Dutch Youth Team) from 2007 through 2010, leading the team to many competitions, and becoming involved in sitting volleyball coach tutoring and training within the Netherlands during the same period.

Peter’s passion quickly evolved to the global scale, with energy and vigor.  In 2010, Peter began a lengthy commitment as a World ParaVolley coaching instructor, leading many coaching courses not only close to home, but with increasing focus within ParaVolley Africa.  Peter led many courses and events in many nations, including (but certainly not limited to!) Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, among others.  At the same time in 2010, Peter began coaching the Rwandan Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team, while supporting NPC Rwanda in their program and organisational development and planning.  Peter’s legacy remains highly visible today in Rwanda.

Under Peter’s guidance, the Rwandan men’s team participated at the 2010 Sitting Volleyball World Championships, followed by a winning performance at the 2011 Sub-Saharan Sitting Volleyball Championships, which gained the team a berth at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Peter’s attention then shifted to include the development of the women’s sitting volleyball program in Rwanda, which would ultimately be seen as a massive source of pride for Peter.  An ambitious plan culminated with the women’s team winning the 2015 African Zonal Championships, thereby qualifying them for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.  This was a monumental achievement – Rwanda had become the first African women’s team in any sport to qualify for the Paralympic Games.  Since then, Rwandan teams have continued their successes, regularly finishing in the top places in African Zonal Championships, and competing fiercely at any competition they enter.

In more recent years, Peter has been heavily involved with the World ParaVolley Coaches’ Commission, as a tutor, mentor, and content developer and contributor to WPV’s online coaching programs.

Most recently, Peter had completed the book “Rwanda’s Road to Rio”, which chronicles chronicles his audacious mission to build Africa’s first Paralympic qualifying women’s sports team from scratch – Rwanda’s National Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team.  This wonderful book can be found HERE.

Peter was also the recipient of World ParaVolley Awards – in 2020 he received  World ParaVolley Reconition Award as an International Coach and Coach Educator, and in 2023 he received a Distinguished Service Award, recognising the breadth of his activities as coach, mentor, administrator, and builder.  He was also a World ParaVolley ‘Mover and Shaker’, profiled as such HERE.

Once again, World ParaVolley extends it’s sincere condolences to Peter’s family and friends.  Peter you will be missed…