My first Magazine SAYI-11 | Page 66

NEWS WORLD Nanjing Announced as FIVB Women’s VNL Finals Host The Chinese city of Nanjing has been selected as host for the first ever FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League Fi- nals. From June 27 - July 1, all eyes will be on the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre as six top teams bid to become the inaugu- ral Volleyball Nations League champion. Nanjing is going to stage the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League Fi- nals for three consecutive years, follow- ing the open bidding process launched by the FIVB on August 31, 2017 via its official website. Nanjing is a major Chinese city in the province of Jiangsu and home to many professional sports teams. The Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre is a 13,000-seat- er stadium located in the Nanjing Hexi New City, and was the main venue for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics and the 2005 National Games of China, as well as the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Finals in August, 2017. The excitement and enthusiasm for hosting major volleyball events has been con- sistently proven, and the Volleyball Na- tions League Finals will offer fans an unrivalled game day experience. 64 Lille Selected Host FIVB Men’s VNL Finals Lille’s Stade Pierre Mauroy has been se- lected as the venue for the inaugural FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League Finals, from July 4-8, 2018. Home to French Ligue 1 football team Lille OSC, the state-of-the-art Stade Pierre Mauroy opened in 2012. Located in Ville- neuve-d’Ascq, the multi-purpose stadium features a retractable roof and has hosted a number of elite sporting events, including rugby, basketball, handball and tennis.