Lausanne, February 19, 2008 - The Vice-Champion of the African Olympic Qualification, the Algerian Men’s team, has confirmed its participation in any of the three Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments in late May. The Algerian Women’s team has already qualified for the Olympics for the first time after winning their African Qualification Tournament in January. The Men’s team finished runners-up to Egypt in their African qualifier in early February and have now been given the opportunity to earn a berth in Beijing.

Algeria become one of nine men’s teams waiting to know their final destination for the third and final step of the Olympic Qualification process. The Africans, along with Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, Puerto Rico and Spain will participate in the drawing of lots at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo on March 3 to decide entry to one of the three Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments.

The Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments will be played in Germany, Japan and Portugal. In addition to the three organizing countries and four Asian teams taking part in Japan (the tournament in Tokyo is also the Asian Olympic Qualifier), the participation of nine teams was ensured as per the World Ranking and the relative continental rule:
3 CEV: Poland, Spain, Italy
2 NORCECA: Puerto Rico, Cuba
2 AVC: Indonesia, Chinese Taipei
1 CSV: Argentina
1 CAVB: Algeria

• 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 winner of each tournament will qualify for Beijing. In Japan, the winner plus the best Asian team (even if the winner is Asian) will qualify for Beijing.