MANILA, Philippines—No less than an influential director of the international volleyball federation (FIVB) who concurrently serves as an executive vice president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) recognizes the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas as the sport’s governing body in the country.
In town to preside over the drawing of lots for the coming Asian Women’s U-23 Championship, Shanrit Wongprasert said Thursday night both the FIVB and the AVC recognize the authority of whichever group that enjoys the blessings of the national Olympic committee.
“We have an international Olympic charter and we, like AVC and all international volleyball federations, can’t get involved with internal problems of any confederation,” said Wongprasert.
“Whenever conflict or problem [arises] FIVB will stop and listen. If the NOC recognized any group, then AVC and FIVB will have to follow.”
The Philippine Olympic Committee-recognized LVP already got provisional recognition from the FIVB, which will approve the results of the recent election of the local body’s new board.
Considered as the “Godfather of Thailand volleyball,” Wongprasert said the FIVB recognition of the LVI is “already settled.”
“This is the principle,” he said. “I know both groups (LVP and rival Philippine Volleyball Federation) very well. Normally I don’t want to say which is good and which is not good. But anyway, among us at AVC, in Philippine volleyball we all know who runs the activities.”
Wongprasert said the PVF owes the AVC $80,000 in fees which the LVP will now have to pay.
LVP officials said they will pay the debt from the revenues of the coming Asian women’s U-23.
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