(Reuters) – The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) became one of the most-watched sports events this year, organisers announced on Tuesday, as the latest edition broke records for attendance, viewership, and social media reach.
The tournament, featuring the world’s top national teams, became the second-most watched sports broadcast in China, with a peak viewership reaching 23.6 million and a cumulative audience of 268 million.
The host nation of the men’s final round, Poland, recorded a cumulative audience of 46 million, while Thailand, host of the women’s final round, reached 38.4 million people.
The 2024 VNL saw an attendance growth of 13% compared to 2023 and 33% compared to 2022, with a total attendance of 751,000 for the pool phases.
Last month’s women’s finals, which saw Italy crowned over Japan, registered a 41% increase in attendance, while the men’s finals, where France beat Japan, saw a 9% year-on-year increase.
The VNL also expanded its social media reach, with 23.3 million total engagements and 127 million views on the Volleyball website since the start of the tournament in May.
“These impressive metrics highlight the VNL’s global appeal and the increasing popularity of volleyball as a premier international sport,” Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor said.
“We are committed to continuing to elevate the sport, engaging with our passionate fan base, and delivering world-class volleyball experiences.”
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Toby Davis)
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