By Gary Anderson

The FIVB Men's World Championship trophy has been stolen while on display in Rio de Janeiro ©FIVBThe International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has begun working on creating two new trophies after both the men's and women's indoor World Championship trophies were stolen from a Rio de Janeiro car park on Friday (August 22).

The trophies, which were only designed earlier this year, were in Brazil as part of FIVB Trophy Tour and went missing from a van parked in a car park near the offices of the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation in Rio while waiting to be transported back to the FIVB headquarters in Lausanne.

The FIVB and Brazilian authorities have appealed for the return of the trophies, which had been on display at a promotional event on Copacabana Beach.

Officials said TNT Express was looking after the trophies when they went missing.

"This situation is lamentable as the FIVB worked very hard to create a unique trophy for both World Championships," said FIVB President Dr Ary S Graça F°.

"The FIVB will work with the local authorities to attempt to recover these iconic pieces of silverware.

"In the meantime [we] will act quickly to create new ones so that a trophy will be guaranteed to be present at both finals of the World Championships in Katowice and Milan, so the players will have the necessary reward in recognition of their tremendous effort and dedication that goes into winning the most important international volleyball event."

The men's trophy was scheduled to arrive in Warsaw, Poland on Saturday (August 30) for the start of the Men's World Championships, which take place until September 21.

The Women's World Championships are scheduled to run from September 23 to October 12 in Italy.

The FIVB is working on having a trophy ready for the Women's Volleyball World Championships in Italy next month ©AFP/Getty ImagesThe FIVB is working on having a trophy ready for the Women's Volleyball World Championships in Italy next month ©AFP/Getty Images




Brazil are the three-time defending men's champions and have reached the last three Olympic finals, winning gold at Athens in 2004.

Brazil's women are the reigning Olympic champions and have reached the last two World Championship finals.

"The volleyball trophies don't have any market value," said Neuri Barbieri from the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation.

"No-one will profit from their sale,

"Volleyball is an example in Brazil.

"Returning the trophies would represent a demonstration of love to Brazilian volleyball."

The FIVB says Eichenberger LTD, who designed and created the stolen trophies, have already started working on replacements in time for the Championships.

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