Poland's 2027 Men's Volleyball World Championship Faces Russian Boycott Threat

Russian sports officials have warned that Poland could lose the right to host the 2027 men's volleyball World Championship if the country blocks Russian athletes. Ministry of Sports spokesman Mikhail Diegtiariev said countries that hinder Russian participation, including Poland, Estonia and Germany, could be stripped of the ability to organize international events.

The International Olympic Committee temporarily lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) restored Russia to the world ranking and competition. The Polish Volleyball Federation president Sebastian Świderski and journalist Andrzej Person have argued that Russian teams should not be allowed to compete in Poland.

The championship is scheduled for September next year in five Polish cities – Olsztyn, Gdańsk, Łódź, Katowice and Kraków – with 32 national teams expected to take part.