Tokyo, Japan, May 28, 2008 - All eyes will be focused on Tokyo, the city where Olympic Volleyball started in 1964, when the last of four World Olympic Qualification tournaments begins in the Japanese capital on Saturday, continuing until June 8. The FIVB Men’s Olympic World Qualification Tournament promises to be an exciting climax to the qualification process for the Beijing Games, with eight teams competing in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium for the two places available at the Summer Games in August.

Australia, Korea, Iran and Thailand, as the four best-ranked teams at the Asian Continental Championship, will compete against hosts Japan, Italy, Argentina and Algeria. The winner will be heading to Beijing. The round-robin tournament doubles up also as the Asian Men's Olympic Qualification Tournament, so the best Asian team (even if the winner is Asian) will also book a berth in the Volleyball Tournament of the Olympic Games.

Brazil, Russia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Serbia, USA and Venezuela have already booked their tickets to Beijing through the FIVB 2007 World Cup or Continental Qualification Tournaments, and Germany secured their first appearance in the Olympic Games since Munich 1972 by winning last weekend’s Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Düsseldorf. China have qualified as the host country.

All eight teams have the same chance to get one of the two Olympic tickets available. However, according to their Volleyball history, Italy, Argentina and Japan are considered the favorites in the tournament.

Three-time World Champions Italy also won eight FIVB World League gold medals and have attended every Olympic Games from 1976 onwards, winning two silver medals and one bronze. The Italians are No. 10 in the FIVB World Ranking and did not participate in the last FIVB World Cup 2007.

Argentina is placed sixth in the FIVB World Ranking and ended seventh in the last World Cup, where they beat Korea 3-0, Australia 3-1, but were defeated by Japan in straight sets. In the South American Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament in January 2008, world No. 20 Venezuela surprised everybody by overpowering the Argentines to qualify to Beijing.

Ranked No. 12 in the world and ninth in the FIVB World Cup 2007, hosts Japan have also a great chance to grab an Olympic berth considering their outstanding performances in important world competitions. In the last World Cup, besides downing Argentina 3-0, the Japanese team defeated Korea 3-0, but were beaten by Australia in straight sets. The “Aussies," ranked No. 11 in the world are also on the run to qualify as the best Asian team. Korea, Iran, Thailand and Algeria must also be considered serious opponents. They are determined to put up a strong challenge to the above-mentioned teams so as to get an Olympic ticket.

The Olympic World Qualification Tournaments are the final chapter of a long and exciting process. The opening chapter began with the FIVB 2007 World Cup, before the second stop at the Continental Qualification Tournaments. Now eight men's teams are ready to rise to the occasion in the Tokyo competition and can dare to dream to be the ones to add their name to the prestigious roll of Beijing Olympic winners. The Men’s Olympic Volleyball Tournament in Portugal this weekend will also decide one of the last three berths.

Match schedule for Tokyo (All times are local)

Saturday, May 31
Australia vs. Thailand (11:05)
Korea vs. Argentina (13:05)
Algeria vs. Iran (15:05)
Italy vs. Japan (18:00)

Sunday, June 1
Thailand vs. Algeria (11:05)
Argentina vs. Australia (13:05)
Italy vs. Korea (15:05)
Japan vs. Iran (18:00)

Monday, June 2 – Rest Day

Tuesday, June 3
Algeria vs. Argentina (11:35)
Australia vs. Italy (13:35)
Iran vs. Thailand (15:35)
Korea vs. Japan (18:30)

Wednesday, June 4
Argentina vs. Iran (11:35)
Korea vs. Australia (13:35)
Italy vs. Algeria (15:35)
Japan vs. Thailand (18:30)

Thursday, June 5 – Rest Day

Friday, June 6
Thailand vs. Argentina (11:35)
Iran vs. Italy (13:35)
Algeria vs. Korea (15:35)
Australia vs. Japan (18:30)

Saturday, June 7
Korea vs. Iran (11:05)
Australia vs. Algeria (13:05)
Italy vs. Thailand (15:05)
Japan vs. Argentina (18:00)

Sunday, June 8
Thailand vs. Korea (11:05)
Iran vs. Australia (13:05)
Argentina vs. Italy (15:05)
Algeria vs. Japan (18:00)