World champs may be split

MILAN, Oct 13 (AFP): The world volleyball championships in 2018 may be split between countries in a move that would stop Russia or Qatar being outright hosts, the international federation president said Monday.

Sports officials deny however that dividing the event would be for political motives. Russia, which is holding football's 2018 World Cup, faces sanctions over its actions in Ukraine while Qatar's bid for the 2022 football World Cup has faced controversy.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) will decide in December which country gets the men's world championships in 2018 and Russia and Qatar are the main candidates.

"Qatar has sent us a letter about that," FIVB president Ary Graca told AFP, confirming the Gulf state's candidacy.

"We have Russia. We will probably talk to the high authorities there," he added.

"But we have another plan. Maybe we can do it in two or three countries, different countries," Graca said.

Poland staged and won this year's championships which were widely hailed for the record crowds and rock concert atmosphere built up at games.