2004 OLYMPIC GAMES

VOLLEYBALL / MEN

Brazil claim gold in magical performance Athens, Greece, August 29, 2004 – World champions Brazil added another trophy to their burgeoning collection after winning the gold medal in the 2004 Olympic Games men’s Volleyball competition with a stunning 3-1 (25-15, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22) victory over Italy at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Sunday. It was a spectacular performance from the world number one team with Giba, who was voted the Most Valuable Player, Heller, Gustavo, Dante, Sergio and Ricardo all in exquisite form, posing plenty of problems for a brave Italian side, who despite claiming one set, couldn’t repeat their “perfect” semifinal performance against Russia. More Pic: Brazil celebrate victory for the gold medal

Brazil and Italy into Olympic final ATHENS, 28 August – World champions Brazil and European champions Italy will fight it out for the Men's Volleyball gold medal on Sunday at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in a repeat of the World League final, which Brazil won 3-1 (27-25 25-19 25-27 25-17). Brazil and Italy go head-to-head at 14:30. Their match up in the preliminary round gave an insight into what one can expect in the final with Brazil claiming a breathtaking tiebreaker that finished at 33-31. Brazil have won eight of the last 10 official match ups against Italy over the past four years. More

World League rematch as Brazil & Italy make final Athens, Greece, August 27, 2004 – World champions Brazil and European champions Italy will playoff for gold in the final of the 2004 Olympic Games men’s Volleyball competition after both teams won breathtaking semifinal matches on Friday. The final will be a repeat of the 2004 World League final in July, which Brazil won 3-1 (27-25 25-19 25-27 25-17) and promises to be another fantastic contest featuring the number one and two highest ranked teams in the world. World number one Brazil will start the final as favourites having won every international Volleyball title available since their World Championship triumph in 2002. Italy, meanwhile, will be looking for revenge after they lost the Preliminary Round match up in a five set thriller 3-2 (25-21, 15-25, 25-16, 21-25, 33-31). More Pic: Brazil celebrate qualifying for the Olympic final

Final four set to begin ATHENS, 26 August – Russia, Italy, Brazil and the United States are just one step away from having the opportunity of playing for gold when the semifinals of the men’s Olympic Volleyball competition get underway on Friday. The four teams in the semifinals, who all come from Pool B in the Preliminary Round, are guaranteed to provide an amazing spectacle with some fascinating match ups in store. At 19:30, 2000 Olympic Games runners-up Russia take on the Sydney bronze medalists and European champions Italy. Russia, world championship bronze medalists, and Italy are in the Olympic semifinals for the third consecutive time. Russia adding a fourth in Atlanta to its silver in Sydney, while Italy finished second in 1996 along with the bronze it earned in 2000. More Pic: USA made one of the most amazing comebacks in Olympic history against Greece in the quarterfinals

Russia, Italy, USA, Brazil qualify for semifinals Athens, Greece, August 25, 2004 – A breathtaking four-set replay of the Sydney 2000 final and an incredible come-from-behind victory by USA against Greece were outstanding highlights in an exhilarating day of quarterfinal play where Russia, Italy, USA and Brazil all qualified for the semifinals of the men’s Olympic Volleyball competition on Wednesday. The semifinals on Friday will begin at 19:30 with three-time Olympic champs Russia playing three-time world champions Italy while world number six USA take on world number one Brazil at 21:30. More Pic: USA's defence was awesome against Greece

The dream and the nightmare Athens, Greece, August 25, 2004 - Peace & Friendship. And maybe love. How would you call the feeling for a sport hall that gave you a gold medal in a European Championship and a second World Championship title? Samuele Papi was something more than an enthusiastic teenager when Julio Velasco called him into the starting six in the Italian Dream Team in 1994. It happened in Athens. “Don’t tell anyone;” said “Samu” in the Peace and Friendship mixed zone. “But when we came here for practice before the tournament, I was shuddering. It was an emotional break. This sport hall means a lot to me. And now we’re here again, with the Olympics all around us”. More Pic: Samuele Papi in action on the first day of the men's competition

Mouthwatering match ups in Men’s Quarterfinals ATHENS, 25 August – The quarterfinals of the men’s Volleyball competition begin on Wednesday starting with a rematch of the Sydney 2000 final. Defending champions Serbia and Montenegro take on Russia at 14:00 followed by Argentina playing Italy at 16:00. The evening matches see Greece play USA at 19:30 while world champions Brazil play Poland at 21:30. Here is a rundown of the advantages and disadvantages facing each team so far. More

Poland claim last quarterfinal spot Athens, Greece, August 23, 2004 – Another riveting day of Volleyball action concluded on Monday with Poland claiming the last quarterfinal berth in the 2004 Olympic Games men’s Volleyball competition after sealing a dramatic five-set thriller 3-2 (25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 20-18) against Argentina. More

Poland and France for last quarterfinal spot ATHENS, 22 August – One spot at the quarterfinals is still to be decided between two teams; Poland and France when the final day of the men’s Preliminary Round action begins on Tuesday. While Pool B has already confirmed their quarterfinalists with Brazil, Italy, Russia and USA just needing to finalize their order, Pool A has an interesting scenario where France and Poland must win to claim the fourth quarterfinal spot behind Sydney 2000 champions Serbia and Montenegro, Argentina and Greece. More

The Fans View Athens, Greece, August 22 - Volleyball is celebrating is 10th anniversary at the Olympic Games and fans from right around the world are coming to the Peace and Friendship Stadium to take in the spectacle. Here’s what they think about one of the most popular sports at the 2004 Athens Games: Svetlana 41, Russia “I came to Athens to support the athletes of my country. To tell the truth I didn’t have any strong intention to watch Volleyball until I heard a lot of positive comments about what takes place at Peace and Friendship Stadium. So I experienced it and I have the best impressions for the organization and for the performances.” More

Greek Olympic dream still alive Athens, Greece, August 21, 2004 – In a brilliant day of exhilarating Volleyball, a dramatic five-set thriller 3-2 (25-22, 14-25, 26-24, 23-25, 15-10) against France sealed Greece’s quarterfinal spot in the 2004 Olympic Games men’s Volleyball competition on a day when seven of the eight quarterfinalists were found. The Peace and Friendship Stadium was definitely the place to be on Saturday for drama, excitement and tension.More Pic: Greece celebrate their qualification for the quarterfinals

Two Volleyball Greats take in Olympic spectacle Athens, Greece, August 21, 2004 – The two captains of the first Volleyball teams to win Olympic gold are here at the Peace and Friendship Stadium taking in the 10th edition of Volleyball at the Olympics Games. Ms. Masae Nakamura (nee Kasai), 70, the former Japanese women’s captain, and former Russian men’s captain Mr. Yuri Chesnokov,71, are now participating in the 28th Olympiad in different functions but in 1964 they led their respect teams to the inaugural Olympic gold medal in Volleyball. More Pic: The first Olympic Volleyball gold medalists from 1964 - Japan's Masae Kasae (left) and Russia's Yuri Chesnokov

D-Day for quartet as South Americans defend unbeaten records ATHENS, August 21 – The American, Dutch, Polish and French Men's Volleyball teams all face must-win games while Brazil and Argentina will attempt to preserve unbeaten records and their lofty positions atop their respective pools when the fourth day of the men’s Volleyball competition starts on Saturday. Pic: Marcos Milincovic and his Argentine team will be looking to go top of Pool A

Argentina go top as Greek dream stalled Athens, Greece, August 19, 2004 – World number eight Argentina virtually guaranteed themselves a place in the 2004 Olympic Games men’s Volleyball competition quarterfinals with their third win from three matches after beating Greece 3-1 (16-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22) on Thursday. More

Day Three - Greece, Argentina battle atop Pool A ATHENS, 18 August – A battle between Pool A leaders Greece and Argentina and a rematch of the traditional rivalry between Russia and the United States headline Thursday's Day Three matches in the Men's Volleyball Tournament at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. More

Brazil wins titanic battle to go clear in Pool B Athens, Greece, August 17, 2004 – World champions Brazil had to call on all their skill and power to finally overcome world number two Italy in a sensational marathon five set match 3-2 (25-21, 15-25, 25-16, 21-25, 33-31) in the final game of Day Two in the men’s Volleyball competition at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Tuesday. More

Three upsets on opening day Athens, Greece, August 15, 2004 – Poland, the Netherlands and Argentina got their 2004 Olympic campaigns off to excellent starts by recording victories over more fancied opponents on the opening day of the men’s Volleyball competition at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Sunday. Following Saturday’s defeat of the defending women’s champions Cuba by Germany, Poland afflicted the same result on the men’s champions from Sydney, Serbia and Montenegro with a polished 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-16) win in the first match of the day. More Pic: Poland celebrate beating Serbia and Montenegro