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The mascot for the 2010 FIVB Men’s World Championship was unveiled Friday evening at the Palazzo delle Esposizoni in Rome. The blue swallow with the number 10 printed on its breast has not been named yet and volleyball fans (even journalists) are invited to vote online to decide a name for the little bird.ascot.

FIVB Second Executive Vice President Theofanis Tsiokris, who attended Friday’s event, said: “The mascot is very beautiful. It is another step towards the most beautiful World Championship in history.

“On this grand occasion at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, I give my thanks and appreciation to the Italian Olympic Committee, the Italian Volleyball Federation and the Organising Committee of the 2010 FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championship. A special thanks must also be extended to RAI television for their fantastic ongoing efforts,” said Tsiokris.

Mr. Gianni Petrucci, Italian Olympic Committee President, Mr. Carlo Salvatori, President of the 2010 Volleyball World Championship Italian Organising Committee, and Mr. Carlo Magri, President of the Italian Volleyball Federation, attended Friday’s event. It was hosted by former MTV Miss Music Giorgia Surina and supported by Jacopo Volpi, Vice Director of RaiSport.

VIPs present from the political and business world included the Hon. Rocco Crimi and the Hon. Gianni Letta, under secretaries to the Presidency of Council of Ministers with the former delegated to sport, and Gilberto Benetton.

The Drawing of Lots for the 2010 FIVB Men’s and Women’s World Championships’ preliminary rounds took place in Turin, Italy, in late September. The teams that will participate in the first-, second- and thirdround preliminary tournaments have now been allocated their groups for what is set to be the most successful World Championships in FIVB history, with a record 214 national teams registered to take part, 113 in the men’s event.

The 2010 Men's World Championship Finals will be held in Italy from September 23 to October 10 and the Women's in Japan from October 29 to November 14. There will be 24 National Teams in each of the Finals.

(Source: AIPS)