It was announced on Friday (July 4) that President Graça and FIVB second executive vice-president André Meyer had signed final agreements with Pierre-Alain Dupraz Architecte, the company in charge of the construction.

The Exhibition Hall is being built under the headquarters of the FIVB in the Swiss city and will utilise "innovative and interactive technology" to highlight some of the most memorable events in the sport's history.

President Graça met some of the workmen involved in the project at today's groundbreaking ceremony, with construction expected to take around a year.

The FIVB was created in 1937 and based its headquarters in Paris, France, but in 1984, the governing body for volleyball moved to Lausanne.

The move brought the federation closer to the International Olympic Committee, which also has its headquarters in the city, and provided a base to promote the sport in worldwide competitions.