Volleyball: what if the Chinese selection came to play in the French championship?

The good news hid another… much more surprising this one.

And unprecedented!

Last Thursday at the end of its General Assembly, the National Volleyball League (LNV) announced that an agreement had been reached with the BeIN Sports channel for the broadcast of one men's League A match per day for the 2022 season. 2023.

A welcome return to the small screen for French professional volleyball, which had been playing in near-anonymity for months.

But during this same GA, Yves Bouget, the president of the LNV, revealed another news – “confidential” this time – to the thirty representatives of professional clubs present.

According to our information, the League boss has announced that he has been contacted by a foreign Federation which would like to allow his selection to play in League A.

The goal would be for her to be able to prepare for the future Paris Olympics in 2024 in France.

According to several sources, this nation would be China, currently 17th in the world ranking of the IFVB.

Throwback to the 2022 finals 🏆 Sport, spectacle and emotions were there 🤩🔥@MHSCVolley @VOLEROLECANNET @Snvba_44 @ToursVolleyBall @ASPTTMulhVolley @stquentinvolley pic.twitter.com/8PQcWOFWkx

– LNV (@LNVofficiel) May 18, 2022

In return, the LNV and the clubs would receive a nice financial compensation.

We are talking about a check for more than a million euros.

A welcome sum for French volleyball, which is struggling to develop and attract partners despite training that is renowned and recognized throughout the world and the fine performances of the French team, Olympic champions in Tokyo last summer.

The arrival of this “Chinese national team” in League A could be effective from the start of the next school year.

This arrival, if it were to materialize, could raise many questions.

Logistics, sports and ethics.

It would be necessary, initially, to plan a new calendar with 15 participants instead of the 14 planned.

According to our information, this "selection" would play the season but could not participate in the playoffs or be relegated.

A special status in the championship which could distort the classification.

A cohabitation with Paris Volleyball?

It will also be necessary for this "Chinese selection" to be able to benefit from a room to host its "home" matches.

The strong trend would be for it to settle in Paris, a central city, served by two airports and, above all, the location of the next Games.

It could therefore cohabit with Paris Volleyball which played at the Charléty stadium in the 13th arrondissement of the capital.

If the presence of a foreign selection would be a first in a French championship, the fact of allowing young French champions to measure themselves against the professional world - in order to accelerate their training - is not new.

In volleyball, the France Avenir 2024 teams are already playing in the women's League A and in the men's League B.

In basketball also, the Federal Center, made up of young French shooters from Insep, plays in National 1 for men (3rd level) and in Ligue 2 for women.

It remains to be seen whether the federal regulations will allow the presence of a foreign team in an official championship in France.

Such a request will undoubtedly have its supporters and detractors.