In putting on this match in an open-roofed - at least, for the first half of the night - stadium, the FIVB nodded to the last time a big volleyball was held in such an arena, the 1983 meeting between Brazil and the the Soviet Union at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro which drew a crowd of 95,887 fans.

The bulk of the audience got the desired result as Poland won by three sets to nil, with the decisive point - a long serve from Serbia - setting off massive celebrations.

It was party night in Warsaw.

"It's not enough to make a big show, to make a big match," Graça said on the eve of an event that was witnessed by Poland's President, Bronislaw Komorowski, who gave an address at the Opening Ceremony.

"It's important to say to the world that we are doing something big, something in the new way of thinking.

"For sure, volleyball today is completely different.

"Our new mentality is to give to the public real entertainment.

"The match itself is an entertainment, but it's not enough.

"We must give some show to say to the public that we have a lot of respect for them.

"We learn very much that we must be changing all the time.

"Every year, everything changes.

"It's amazing.

"You cannot stay still, you have to move.

"But of one thing I am sure.

"This new concept that the FIVB is using now is a big change.

"I could say, I dare to say, that the FIVB is going to be another FIVB after this World Championship.

"We are expending a lot of energy and money to give to the Polish people this big show and also to the rest of the world.

It's a mark.

"Before and after, I'm quite sure of that. It is a new era in volleyball."

The Polish President, Bronislaw Komorowski (centre) and FIVB President Dr Ary Graça (left) oversee the Opening Ceremony of the World Volleyball Championshiips in Warsaw tonight ©Getty Images

The Stadion Narodowy, built in the city centre three years ago, staged several matches in the UEFA Euro 2012 football championships jointly hosted with Ukraine before becoming the permanent home of the national football team.

But it is now diversifying energetically into all manner of sporting extravaganzas.

After the colourful entertainment of this evening, where sections of the crowd were encouraged to wave red and gold tinsel squares which complimented the overall themed colours of the quadrennial tournament which is due to stage its final in Katowice on September 21, the arena will be reconfigured to accommodate an indoor pool on which the PWA Indoor Windsurfing Cup will be held.

And that pool will be available to the public for two hours, under the supervision of instructors.

Polish fans brandishing national scarves created a football-type atmosphere in the National Stadium tonight in support of their national volleyball team in the opening match of the World Championships ©Getty Images

It is all about "thinking outside the box" - a phrase dear to Graça's heart.

When he was voted into his present position two years ago, the Brazilian did so on the keynote of "innovation" and he has been as good as his word.

On that theme, Graça was also happy to announce the existence in the VIP section of the Stadium of a prototype of a volleyball net which could revolutionise not just this sport, but sport in general when it is brought into competition next year.

The net in question has inbuilt LED lighting capable of mounting any kind of display, ranging from an atmospheric "Great spike!" to statistical information or, of course, commercial details.

"Over the next few months it will be taken into sporting completion and the Federation will begin to work out the rules of when the net is used as a presentation for the sport, and when it is used as a in a commercial way," said Michael Payne, the former head of marketing at the International Olympic Committee, who is now special advisor to the FIVB.

"Tonight all eyes of the world are on Warsaw," Graça told the crowd..

"Tonight, you have already set a new world championship record.

"70 000 fans in the stadium. UNBELIEVABLE!"