Exciting Results from the 2024 World ParaVolley General Assembly!
The much-anticipated 2024 World ParaVolley General Assembly, held virtually on December 7th, has concluded with significant elections that promise to shape the future of the sport. The assembly saw the election of Juergen Schrapp from Germany as President, Elvira Stinissen from the Netherlands as Vice President, Milan Milosevic from Croatia as Medical Director, and Anton Raimondo from South Africa as Development Director
New Leadership for a New Era
Juergen Schrapp, with his extensive experience as an athlete and dedication to the sport spanning 30 years, is set to lead World ParaVolley into a new era. His vision for the future includes expanding the reach of paravolley and enhancing support for athletes worldwide. Elvira Stinissen, the newly elected Vice President, brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong commitment to inclusivity and development within the sport thanks to her experience as former national team player and former IPC Athletes Council Vice Chair.
Milan Milosevic, the new Medical Director, has over 20 years experience in sports medicine and anti-doping procedure education and is expected to bring innovative approaches to athlete health and safety, ensuring that paravolley remains at the forefront of sports medicine.
Anton Raimondo, as Development Director, will continue his focus on growing the sport globally, with particular attention to education programs and digitisation.
Acknowledging the Contributions of Previous Leaders
The assembly also took time to honor the contributions of the outgoing officials. Their dedication and hard work have laid a strong foundation for the incoming team. The previous President, Lori Okimura, was praised for her leadership and efforts in promoting paravolley on a global scale.
The outgoing Vice President, Debbie Masauvakalo was recognized for helping out the President during the transition phase following the retirement of former WPV President Barry Couzner.
Louise Ashcroft, the former Medical Director, was also commended for her advancements on the anti-doping programme and all work in the medical area.
Looking Ahead
With the new leadership team in place, the future of World ParaVolley looks bright. The organization is poised to continue its mission of promoting and developing paravolley worldwide, ensuring that athletes worldwide have the opportunity to compete and excel on the global stage.
The 2024 General Assembly has set the stage for exciting developments in the coming years, and the paravolley community eagerly anticipates the positive changes and growth that will follow.
The remainder of the World ParaVolley Board consists of:
The two Athletes’ Commission members that currently hold seats on the Board are current athletes:
- Ms. Heidi Peters as Team Leader of the Athletes’ Commission
- Mr. Ivan Cosic as Deputy Team Leader of the Athletes’ Commission
Meanwhile, the other ongoing positions are:
- Dr. Stephen Giugni OAM as Sport Director
- Ms. Christine Shelby as Marketing Director
- Mr. Ehab Hassanein as President of ParaVolley Africa
- Mr. Lu Cailiang as President of Asia Oceania
- Mr. Branko Mihorko as President of ParaVolley Europe
- Mr. Joe Campbell as President of ParaVolley Pan America
- Mr. Phil Allen as General Manager (non-voting)
- Mr. Benno Meijer as Treasurer (non-voting)
- Mr. Graham Arthur as General Counsel (non-voting)
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