It will be the first democratic election in the FIVB's 65-year history.

America's Doug Beal will be facing Ary Graca, President of both the South American Volleyball Confederation and the Brazilian Volleyball Federation, and Chris Schacht, President of the Australian Volleyball Federation, to replace Wei.

Wei was elected by acclamation at the FIVB Congress four years ago to replace Mexico's Rubén Acosta, who had held the post since 1984, having replaced France's Paul Libaud, who had been President since the organisation's founding in 1947.

Wei had promised to stand down after one term to allow a proper democratic election to take place. 

A total of 206 countries are elgible to vote in the election.

The build-up to the election has been overshadowed by allegations that the heads of the five Confederations had a signed agreement which promised them paid administrative positions in the FIVB for some of them and other selected Board members in return for supporting Graca, a deal publicly criticised by Beal, the chief executive of USA Volleyball. 

Doug Beal, the chief executive of USA Volleyball, claims that the image of the FIVB has been "undermined" by a secret letter

"I have seen the signed agreement by the Confederation Presidents as it was presented to me and to the NORCECA (The North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) Board last April," said the 65-year-old Beal, who was coach of the United States team that won the Olympic gold medal at Los Angeles in 1984. 

"The deal discusses promised paid administrative positions in the FIVB for some Confederation Presidents and other selected Board members, and seems to be inconsistent with how we would want to govern and have the FIVB operate going forward.

"This type of behaviour undermines the image, respect and credibility of FIVB.

"The so-called secret deal apparently includes that some Confederation Presidents will have a paid position in the FIVB administration in Lausanne – while at the same time being President of their Confederation.

"This is almost an absurd idea and I am convinced that National Federations won't understand nor support this.

"It's time for change.

"Recently, President Wei sent a letter to all National Federations defending the FIVB's interest and insisting on applying the IOC (International Olympic Committee) rule of 'money that came from sport should be used for sport'.

"I completely support him on this issue."

If Beal is successful he would be the only American to lead an Olympic sport.

Ary Graca is the favourite to become FIVB President after helping Brazil become the most successful country in the sport

But Graca, who is a FIVB vice-president, is the heavy favourite and already has the public backing of Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, the head of NORCECA, Amr Elwani of the African Volleyball Confederation and Saleh Bin Nasser of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.

Under Graça's leadership, the Brazilian federation, Confederação Brasileira de Voleibol, has become the leading country in the sport. 

At London 2012 Brazil finished top of the medals table with four medals, including gold in the women's indoor event. 

Graca's manifesto includes ensuring "the continued growth of the game by developing exciting new event concepts and compelling content that attracts the greater interest of new fans, broadcasters and sponsors - providing greater revenue streams for National Federations".

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