It's time to cancel VNL, or try to make a proper one. Or you stop with this thing of "core teams" who cannot be relegated, make a proper way to qualify for VNL, or, i don't know, give ranking-points, or just give up. Even China is not giving a damn about it anymore
I think it's time to ban FIVB from volleyball, everything they touch turns not into gold but into like rusty copper. Smh
Guys and gals, we can't do both. We are stuck with both the FIVB and VNL. The FIVB needs an annual tournament for the national teams. The core teams are willing to pay the money to participate in the tournament. When looking at the list of countries they are basically the biggest ones in the sport.
Each country federation do have a choice to do as the see fit. For the USA, Olympics are goal #1, VNL #2, World Champs #3 (in my mind). Thailand goals when they hosted the Asian Games were Asian Games #1 and World Champs #2.
With this being a qualifying year for the Olympics (given the World Cup of being of less importance this year), having your squad ready to go for the quick three match sprint is critical. It is annoying that China signs a hosting contract and then does not send its best team to the Final. Yes, absolutely. However, for China the Olympics and World Championships are more important to the national discussion. Would the FIVB want China to do this kind of thing in the future? NO.
The only way this could have been avoided was to postpone the Olympic Qualifiers into 2020. However, the schedule would not allow it.