Volleyball Foundation
Striking new community courts in Manila and Ankara give volleyball lovers new places to gather, play and dream
Following last week’s inauguration of the first-ever VNL Legacy Court in the Brazilian capital, Brasília, the initiative has crossed two continents in the space of a single week. As the women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) brought elite competition to Manila and Ankara, both capital cities unveiled VNL Legacy Courts of their own – transforming everyday public spaces into vibrant, art-filled homes for the sport.
Like the court in Brasília, the new facilities are designed to outlast the tournaments that inspired them. They will serve as favourite meeting points for local volleyball lovers, as works of public art that support their urban surroundings, and as a lasting reminder of the week the world’s best players competed here and sparked volleyball fever among fans.
The VNL Legacy Court programme, a joint initiative of the FIVB, Volleyball World and the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, is built around the growth of the sport at the local community level. By bringing together players of all ages and abilities at openly accessible locations, the programme aims to promote a love of volleyball where togetherness and collaboration is key. It also aims to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through sport, while contributing to the physical, mental and social health of the communities it reaches.
In the Philippines, the court came to life through a collaboration with Filipino artist Maya Caran Dang – better known as Maya 100, a nod to his mission of creating 100 works of art on sports courts across the country. Located at the Taguig City Community Center in Manila, it sits just a few kilometres from the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, where six nations are battling in the VNL this week.
Maya’s masterpiece depicts Filipino volleyball standout Julia de Guzman, as well as a number of top-caliber international stars representing the six countries competing in Pasig City – Dominican Republic’s Brenda Castillo, Czechia’s Helena Grozer, USA’s Jordyn Poulter, Japan’s Mayu Ishikawa, Italy’s Paola Egonu and Serbia’s Tijana Boskovic.
For de Guzman, the project is deeply personal.
“I actually grew up playing volleyball with my siblings on a small community court. Looking back, having a space like that played a huge role in helping me fall in love with the game and gave me the opportunity to learn, play, and dream,” said Julia de Guzman. “That’s why this is so meaningful. For me, it’s not just about building courts—it’s about creating opportunities. When I see the faces of these top global volleyball athletes around the court, I’m reminded that they all started the same way – with a small dream and a big love for volleyball. Sometimes all it takes is one court, one coach or one moment to spark a dream.”
In Türkiye, the artwork was created by muralist Emir Aktunç – known in the street-art world as Max on Duty – whose projects have appeared in cities across the country and beyond. Set up at the Batıkent area of Ankara, only a short distance from the Ankara Arena hosting this week’s VNL battles, his design celebrates five inspirational figures of Turkish women’s volleyball: Cansu Özbay, Gizem Örge, Hande Baladın, Melissa Vargas and Zehra Güneş.
Together, the courts in Manila and Ankara extend a global network that began in Brasília and will continue to grow, ensuring that the sport remains accessible to everyone, everywhere. By combining sport and art in community settings, the VNL Legacy Court programme supports the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032 and its ambition to grow the Global Volleyball Movement to 1.6 billion – bringing volleyball, and the dreams it inspires, within reach of the next generation of players.
