The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Volleyball Foundation Festival in Bhubaneswar, India, made history on 4 October 2024, breaking the Guinness World Record for the most players in a volleyball exhibition match, bringing together 430 players in a single game.
This extraordinary achievement shattered the previous, long-standing record by a remarkable 136 people, with the previous record standing at 294, set by Association sportive de Saint Genis Les Ollieres section volleyball and the town of Saint Genis Les Ollieres during the Téléthon 2011 on 3 December 2011.
The Guinness World Record was broken during an 8-hour long match with a total score of 736 – 756. The successful attempt took place during the mass participation KISS Volleyball Foundation Festival, organised in partnership with the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, KISS and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT).
The festival, held at the KIIT and KISS Athletic Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India, attracted over 40,000 children, including 5,000 players, all gathered to celebrate volleyball. The event featured 60 outdoor courts set up across the stadium, allowing up to 480 participants to play volleyball simultaneously. In addition to the outdoor activities, volleyball games and events were hosted across multiple venues on the KIIT campus, including indoor halls and a multi-purpose gymnasium.
Among the festival’s attendees were four champion teams from the fourth season of the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL), a project supported by the Volleyball Foundation. The BVL involves over 10,000 children across 158 remote villages in Assam, one of India’s most underdeveloped regions, who participate in a community-run volleyball league. For the BVL players, the festival marked a historic milestone, as it was their first time traveling by plane.
FIVB and Volleyball Foundation President Dr Ary S. Graça F° and KIIT & KISS Founder Dr Achyuta Samanta attended the groundbreaking mass participation event. During the opening ceremony, FIVB and Volleyball Foundation President Dr Ary S. Graça F° said: “This is what the Volleyball Foundation is here for: to give the opportunity to everyone to access sport, no matter their gender, age, background or position. Where people can experience the joy of volleyball and learn the important skills that will serve them throughout their lives. We demonstrate how volleyball can transform communities around the world, open new doors, challenge social divisions, and promote wellbeing and healthier lifestyles! We give people hope!”
KIIT and KISS Founder Dr Achyuta Samanta commented: “It is a tremendous honour to partner with the FIVB Volleyball Foundation to host this KISS Volleyball Foundation Festival, marking the first large-scale event of its kind on our campus. When I founded KISS and KIIT, my vision was to create opportunities and inspire hope through education and sport. I am proud to see that vision taking shape, as we build the necessary infrastructure and achieve remarkable milestones. Fifteen KIIT students participated in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and two competed at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 – the highest number among all universities in the country! Events like this festival highlight the transformative power of sport and I look forward to many more years of collaboration with the Volleyball Foundation.”
The festival also featured the landmark signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Volleyball Foundation, KIIT and KISS.
The MoU marked the launch of the “Dr Ary Graça – Dr Samanta Scholarship”, which will provide up to two volleyball athletes with a full scholarship to pursue either a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The scholarship is designed as a post-career educational opportunity for volleyball and beach volleyball players, covering essential costs such as lodging, boarding and tuition fees. In addition, the MoU will see all parties cooperating for upcoming projects aimed at encouraging youth participation in volleyball and creating pathways for future development.
