COUNTDOWN TO ROME - Rome is ready to welcome the FIVB Men’s World Championship. After months of preparation, the capital is set to host the third phase, in program from October 4th through October 10th, which will witness the strongest teams in the world challenge each other in the attempt to take home the world title. The Eternal City will once again demonstrate its unique ability in  welcoming thousands of spectators who will animate the atmosphere at the PalaLottomatica. Ever since the 1978 World Championship in Rome, volleyball fans have continued throughout the years to reveal their exceptional passion for each and every Italian victory.
As the October 4th date nears, tickets are being sold rapidly and the venue is expected to host over 60,000 fans during the five days of matches.  The Local Organizing Committee and all those working for the event are confident that Rome will respond to the tournament with the same loyalty and intensity that the game of volleyball transmits on the court. Among the positive notes to underline is the high number of volunteers who have offered their services to make this world championship a true success. There will be many collateral initiatives in the area of the venue : youth villages , a project made possible thanks to the interest and support of the Minister of Youth Affairs , will offer both moments of fun, entertainment and education.  The president of the Local Organizing Committee Massimo Mezzaroma has often commented that this world championship will be for everyone, finalized to the promotion of the entire volleyball movement. A competition dedicated to each individual who has allowed this city and the entire nation to once again be a protagonist in such an important event as the World Championship.
Prior to the beginning of the third phase with the six qualifying national teams,  there will be the “Lazio CupVolley” , a four-sided tournament , a test match, on October 1st and 2nd, with the four teams of the Lazio region M.Roma Volley, Andreoli Top Volley Latina, Globo Argos Sora and Aeronautica Club Italia.

ON MONDAY IT'S FLORENCE TURN - On Monday it's Florence turn. Along with Rome, the capital city of Tuscany will host two of the quarter final rounds with twelve teams, most of them likely to win a medal.
Similarly to other Italian cities, where the first phase of the championship took place and the second phase ends tomorrow, Florence is eager to know which big team will play at the Nelson Mandela Forum. It will be the venue of four matches, valid for the 9th and 12th place, on 8th and 9th October, in addition to six quarter final matches, due on 4th, 5th and 6th October.
The organizers are now working on the last details: a new press aerea has been set up to host more than 120 accredited journalists and the large RAI crew, which will broadcast the matches with 16 video-cameras, in the venue at Campo di Marte, renovated to meet the championship needs and, for the first time, equipped with an air conditioning system. At the same time, a hundred volunteers, who collected experience at international level, are now getting ready with the final rehearsal.
A stand by Poste Italiane will be set up on 4th, 5th and 6th at Nelson Mandela Forum in occasion of a special philatelic cancellation. A similar initiative will be promoted by the mail company of the Republic of San Marino on 6th. On Monday 4th a book on the history of volleyball in Florence will be presented at Assi Giglio Rosso headquarters. The book enlightens the important moments experienced on the courts of the club located in Viale Michelangelo.
Salvatore Allocca, Councillor of welfare and sport, Elio Sità, Executive director of the local organising committee and Chair of FIPAV in Tuscany, as well as Agostino Pantani, Federal councillor and responsible for large events, introduced the championship phase in Florence today at Palazzo Strozzi Sacrati, seat of the Tuscan regional government.
The event was also attended by Eugenio Giani, Chair of CONI at provincial level, Paolo Ignesti, Chair of CONI at regional level (represented by Mr Sità), and Sabrina Bertini, former player who joined the Italian national team more than 300 times and federal councillor.

FAI VOLLEY ! WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ITALIA 2010 WITH FAI – FONDO AMBIENTE ITALIANO - The Fivb Men’s Volleyball World Championship Italia 2010 promotes a new initiative that enriches the activity program devoted to Social Responsibility: FAI VOLLEY !
The World Championship unify the support and a contribute to the national campaign of FAI’s fund-raising called “Defend your love for Italy ” to the environmental project “Green Volley” and the collaboration with onlus “Operation Smile”.
On the touchline’s led system in the sports arena of Florence, Modena and Rome which will hold  from 8 - 10 October the semifinals and the finals, the world champion review will show a message from FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano and an audio spot of the campaign will be transmitted to remind the Volley fans the beauty and the landscape importance of the Italian territory whose protection engages FAI for over 35 years.
With this initiative in support of FAI, the Organizing Committee and the Italian Volleyball Federation will testify to the will and the capacity of a great sporting event to transmit positive messages that ennoble even the sporting content.
Taking the field with FAI, contributing to the protection and the promotion of the environmental, landscape and cultural heritage of our country, a precious good who belongs to all Italian people and is at the world’s disposal, it represents one of the heritage that the Volley World Championship wants to leave in few days from the great final running on 10 October in Rome.