Giovanni Guidetti awarded GQ magazine ‘Equality Award’

The long-time head coach of VakifBank ISTANBUL and the President of the FIVB Technical and Coaching Commission, Giovanni Guidetti, was the recipient of the GQ Men of the Year ‘Equality Award’ in recognition of his social responsibility project ‘Yarının Sultanları’ (aka. Sultans of Tomorrow) during GQ magazine’s ‘Men of the Year’ Awards in Instanbul, Türkiye.

The awards ceremony served as an opportunity to celebrate stars from across the world of culture, sport and fashion who have made 2022 a year to remember.

“I am pleased to receive this award for a project that is engraved on our hearts. Yarının Sultanları is proof of what the girls of this country can achieve when they are given an opportunity. We visited dozens of cities and worked one-on-one with thousands of girls. I went to places like Bitlis, Elazig for the first time with this project. Türkiye is not only Istanbul, Ankara, or Izmir. Türkiye is a beautiful country from east to west, north to south,” Guidetti said.

“This country has given me a beautiful family. My wife Bahar is here tonight. I want to thank her. I also want to thank Alison, my daughter. I would like to thank my team, who has been working with me on this project. And I say it again very loud: Trust the girls and women of this country. They are the main asset of Türkiye’s bright future.”

Yarının Sultanları is a social responsibility project aimed at helping girls realise their full potential through the unique power of volleyball. Guidetti has been using volleyball as a tool to empower girls around the country and tear down barriers that prevent them from enjoying equal access to sport. In recognition of his efforts, he has been appointed as a Gender Equality Advocate by the United Nations – the first time a sportsperson has enjoyed this honour.