Lausanne, 7th December 2007 – The magnificent FIVB World Cup 2007 ended in Japan with its verdicts: 6 teams earned their Olympic berths for Volleyball 2008 Olympic Games. That was the first Olympic Qualification step. 8 places for Men and 8 for Women’s team have to be decided yet and they will be assigned through two incoming steps: the Continental Olympic Qualification Tournaments and the World Olympic Qualification Tournaments. A long path of challenges which will end in May.

Olympic Games Beijing 2008

12 teams for Men

12 teams for Women

China + 3 teams qualified from World Cup + 5 teams from Continental Olympic Qualification Tournaments + 3 teams from World Olympic Qualification Tournaments

Men

1. China (host country)

2. Brazil (1. World Cup)

3. Russia (2. World Cup)

4. Bulgaria (3. World Cup)

5. (African Continental Qualification Tournament)

6. (Asian Continental Qualification Tournament) *

7. (European Continental Qualification Tournament)

8. (Norceca Continental Qualification Tournament)

9. (South American Continental Qualification Tournament)

10. (World Olympic Qualification Tournament - Germany)

11. (World Olympic Qualification Tournament - Japan)

12. (World Olympic Qualification Tournament - Portugal)

Women

1. China (host country)

2. Italy (1. World Cup)

3. Brazil (2. World Cup)

4. USA (3. World Cup)

5. (African Qualification Tournament)

6. (Asian Qualification Tournament) *

7. (European Qualification Tournament)

8. (Norceca Qualification Tournament)

9. (South American Qualification Tournament)

10. (World Qualification Tournament)

11. (World Qualification Tournament)

12. (World Qualification Tournament)

* The Asian Continental Qualification Tournaments are played combined with the World Olympic Qualification Tournaments in Japan

CONTINENTAL OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENTS

(The winner of each tournament gets the Olympic berth)

NORCECA

Men:

January 4-12, Puerto Rico

Teams: Barbados, Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, USA

Women:

December 15-23, Monterrey, Mexico

Teams: Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago

CSV

Men:

January 2-8, Formosa, Argentina

Teams: Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela

Women:

January 3-7, Lima, Peru

Teams: Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

CEV

Men:

January 7-13, Izmir, Turkey

Teams: Spain, Italy, Poland, Nederland, Turkey, Serbia, Germany, Finland

Women:

January 15-20, Halle, Germany

Teams: Serbia, Russia, Romania, Croatia, Germany, Poland, Nederland, Turkey

CAVB

Men:

February 1-10, Johannesburg, South Africa

Teams: Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea-Conakry, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Liberia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Women:

January 20-30, Alger, Algeria

Teams: Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Liberia, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe

AVC *

Men:

May 31-Jun. 8, Tokyo, Japan

Teams: Japan, Australia, Korea, Iran, Thailand

Women:

May 17-25, Tokyo, Japan

Teams: Japan, Thailand, Korea, Kazakhstan

WORLD OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENTS

Men: tournaments in Germany, Portugal, Japan

¨     May 23-25, Dusseldorf, Germany

4 teams: Germany + 3 teams decided by drawing of lots

¨     May 30 - June 1, Espinho, Portugal

4 teams: Portugal + 3 teams decided by drawing of lots

¨     May 31 - June 8, Tokyo, Japan

8 teams: Japan + 4 Asian teams best ranked in the Asian Continental Championship (Australia, Korea, Iran, Thailand) + 3 teams decided by drawing of lots.

The 2 Olympic berths in Tokyo are assigned to the winner and to the best Asian team.

Drawing of lots: 3 best ranked teams from Europe, 2 from Norceca, 1 from South America, 1 from Africa, 2 from Asia (Indonesia, Chinese Taipei). The drawing of lots will be conducted in February 2008 in Japan, at the end of all Continental Olympic Qualification Tournaments

Women:

May 17-25, Tokyo, Japan *

8 teams: Japan + 3 Asian teams best ranked in the Asian Continental Championship (Thailand, Korea, Kazakhstan) + 4 best World ranked teams.

Best World ranked teams: 2 best ranked teams from Europe, 1 from Norceca, 1 from South America or Africa

*The tournaments in Japan are valid also as Asian Qualification Tournaments.