Dr Ruben Acosta looked back fondly upon the progress of Volleyball during his 24 years as President of the FIVB and expressed his trust in the future of the sport under incoming President Jizhong Wei at a press conference Wednesday, following the 31st FIVB World Congress in Dubai.

"We have accomplished the first two phases in the life of our organisation", said Dr Acosta. "The first phase was until 1984 under the leadership of Paul Libaud for 37 years and I would like to pay homage to him. The second phase has taken 24 years and in those years we have been trying to find our way and have achieved a series of improvements. The third phase starts with the election of Mr Jizhong Wei."

"I'm sure Mr Wei will bring new fresh ideas to our sport It is not just a matter of age it is a matter of competence. He will bring new ways, a new image. I wish him good luck.", said President Acosta, who also took the opportunity to pay a special tribute to the World Congress Guest of Honour and organisers.

"I want to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Guest of Honour, HH Sheik Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to accept and patronise this 31st FIVB World Congress, the gathering of the biggest sports conference in the world", said Dr Acosta. "It was the best World Congress ever organised. I give my sincere thanks to the people of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates Volleyball Association."

Following an FIVB Board of Administration decision approved by Congress that elections be in line with the Olympic cycle. Wei will be President until elections in 2012 beginning his term after the Beijing Olympic Games.

"During my term my task is to implement and accomplish all the projects already initiated by Dr Acosta. We may have fresh ideas but these ideasstarted under the guidelines set up by the President.", said Wei. "The most important legacy is the intellectual legacy of Dr Acosta that has come from 24 years of hard work accumulated. These are my feelings as I take the baton from the hand of the President."