The governing body of the sport of volleyball is FIVB, short for the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. The organization oversees international volleyball, including indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, and related disciplines. Its name is French because the federation was founded in Paris in 1947.
FIVB establishes and maintains international rules, organizes major competitions, and coordinates the sport's national federations. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and plays a central role in Olympic volleyball and beach volleyball. Its headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland, a city that hosts many international sports organizations.
FIVB works through five continental confederations: CEV in Europe, NORCECA in North and Central America and the Caribbean, AVC in Asia, CAVB in Africa, and CSV in South America. The abbreviation is sometimes confused with the name of a tournament or a national association, but FIVB is the worldwide governing federation. National bodies, such as USA Volleyball, administer the sport within individual countries while operating within FIVB's international framework.