Luxembourg, 7 January 2008. The year 2008 immediately starts with an extremely important tournament for the best men’s volleyball teams of Europe, for which all matches will be broadcasted live on Eurosport and live for free on www.laola1.tv and on www.bwin.com. Today, the European Olympic Qualification Tournament commence in Izmir (TUR) and from 7-13 January, eight teams from the world’s leading volleyball continent will fight for only one ticket for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Two European men’s teams already secured a spot for the Olympic Games 2008. Beside the Brazilians which won the 2007 FIVB World Cup in Japan, Russia and Bulgaria picked up the two other berths for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The third European participant will be the winner of the European Olympic Qualification Tournament in Izmir.

Based on the last ranking of the 2007 European Championships, which was organized in St-Petersburg and Moscow, Spain (European Champion), Serbia (bronze medal) and Finland (4^th) are the main favorites for the highly wanted Olympic ticket. But for sure, the host team as well as Poland, Italy, Netherlands and Germany will play the outsiders in their respective pools.

Mr. Genadijs Parsins, head-coach of the Turkish National men’s Team declared "The teams in both groups are very difficult but we believe that we will do our best. We want to get the Olympic tiket in Turkey and I believe in my team"

The eight participants will execute a single round robin competition in the pool phase from 7 till 10 January. The first two teams of each pool proceed to the crossed semifinals, scheduled for 12 January. The winner of the final on Sunday 13 January will be qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Men’s European Olympic Qualification Tournament

Pool A : ITA – ESP – POL - NED

Pool B : TUR – SRB – GER - FIN

Monday 07.01

15.30: ITA - NED

18:00 TUR - FIN

20.30: ESP – POL

Tuesday 08.01

15.30: SRB – FIN

18 :00: POL – ITA

20:30: GER – TUR

Wednesday 09.01

15:30: ITA - ESP

18:00: SRB – GER

20:30: NED - POL

Thursday 10.01

15:30: FIN - GER

18:30: ESP - NED

20:30: TUR – SRB

Friday 11.01

Rest day

Saturday 12.01

16.30: 1A – 2B

19.00: 1B – 2B

Order of the matches to be confirmed

Sunday 13.01

16:00 Final 1/2