Fort Lauderdale, Fla., October 2, 2015 - Ed Drakich could be the happiest guy at the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals. And it’s not just because it’s his birthday week. “This is where I want to be,” Drakich said. “This is such an important tournament. There’s nowhere I would rather be.”As he walks around observing the beach volleyball competition as the FIVB Technical Supervisor, Drakich is impossible to miss in his bright yellow shirt. He is responsible for ensuring that the standards of the FIVB Handbook are upheld.Drakich is very familiar with the state of Florida. In 1994, he had his best international FIVB result in Miami, finishing fourth. “I always enjoyed playing here in Florida,” Drakich said. “Beach volleyball is very big here. A lot of Canadians will come down to train in the winter.”He went on to compete at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.Just two weeks after the 1996 Olympics, Drakich retired from competition and started working for the FIVB. He is also Volleyball Canada’s Beach Volleyball High Performance Director
He was born for both roles.“I have enjoyed organizing tournaments since I was little,” Drakich said. “Even as a player, I tried to help with the draws and the rules.”As Drakich surveyed the scene in Fort Lauderdale, he marveled at how far the sport has come since he was a player.“Look at this venue,” Drakich said. “It’s unbelievable. When I played, fans would have to bring beach chairs to sit.”