A total of 12 teams per gender will compete in Volleyball at the London olympics, while Beach Volleyball will feature 24 pairs per gender

Lausanne, Switzerland, May 14, 2010 - The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is pleased to announce the confirmation of the Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Olympic qualification process for the 2012 Olympic Games, following the IOC ratification of the FIVB Board of Administration’s decision made in April.

The Volleyball competition at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Great Britain will take place at Earls Court while Beach Volleyball will be held at the inspirational Horse Guards Parade. The dates for both competitions are July 28–August 12.

Volleyball
The qualification process for the 12 teams per gender (24 in total) will consist of the following:
1 host country (Great Britain)
3 from the 2011 World Cup (first, second and third)
1 from each Continental Qualification Tournament (played between December 15, 2011-January 15, 2012)
3 from the World Olympic Qualification Tournaments

The opening qualifying event for the 2012 Olympic Games will be the 2011 World Cup in Japan which will run from November 4-18 for women and November 20-December 4 for men. A total of 12 teams per gender (hosts Japan, 2011 Continental champions, four 2011 Continental vice-champions placed highest on the FIVB World Rankings and two wildcards) will compete for the three vacancies on offer in each tournament.

The World Olympic Qualification Tournaments consist of three tournaments for men and one for women to be held between May 15-31, 2012.

Beach Volleyball
The qualification process for the 24 pairs per gender (48 in total) will consist of the following:
1 host country (Great Britain)
16 from the World ranking (i.e. 12 best results between the World Championships, World Tour and recognized Continental Tour during the period 1 January 2011 until 17 June 2012)
5 from the Continental Beach Volleyball World Cup (played between June 1, 2010-June 24, 2012)
2 from the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Cup Final Olympic Qualification (25 June – 1 July 2012)

The qualification criteria for Beach Volleyball at the 2012 Olympic Games has undergone a major change with countries rather than individual teams qualifying and the introduction of the Continental Beach Volleyball Cup and the Beach Volleyball World Cup Olympic Qualification Tournament.
The calendar of events for the qualification is in progress and will be announced in the forthcoming months.

In previous Olympics, the top 23 teams on the World ranking plus one host country team (granted) qualified for the Olympic Games. The 2012 edition of the Olympic Qualification system will offer the opportunity to more countries to compete within three types of qualifying tournaments for a quota place (s) at the Olympic Games as follows: 16 vacancies will be obtained through the world ranking, five from the Continental Beach Volleyball Cup and two more from the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Cup Olympic Qualification tournament. With a maximum country quota of two pairs, nations who have not qualified two places through the world ranking, have another chance to qualify these places through the Continental Beach Volleyball Cup and again, countries who have not qualified two quota places in the previous two methods can qualify through the Olympic Qualification process ending tournament - the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Cup Olympic Qualification Tournament.
 
To be eligible for the 2012 Olympic Games from the World ranking, athletes must have participated in at least 12 FIVB official Olympic qualification tournaments as an individual (World Tour/World Championships/recognized Continental Final) scheduled from January 1, 2011 until June 17, 2012.

To be eligible to qualify through the Continental Beach Volleyball Cup and/or FIVB Beach Volleyball World Cup, and/or Olympic Trials, athletes must have participated as an individual in at least 12 Continental Beach Volleyball Cup, National and/or Continental and/or FIVB events scheduled from June 1, 2010 until June 24, 2012.

Once a vacancy is earned, an NOC/NF can stage National Olympic Trials from July 3-8, 2012 to determine the athletes to participate at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, respecting the athlete technical eligibility requirements.

London 2012 Olympic Games Beach Volleyball Qualification Process in brief

Total vacancies per gender = 24

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Contact:
FIVB Press Department Director
Richard Baker
Office: +41 21 345 3535
Mobile. +41 79 603 3926
Fax: +41 21 345 3545
Email: press@fivb.org

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