Women’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament: Puerto Rico Women’s team to compete in May for a place in Beijing

 

Lausanne, 11 February 2008 – The FIVB has granted Puerto Rico Women’s team the place available in the Olympic World Qualification Tournament to be held in Tokyo from 17 to 25 May. Following the Continental Qualification Tournaments, the final place for this eight-team tournament was to be decided by a Playoff between Peru and Kenya, the teams ranked second in the South American and African Qualifiers, but both teams dropped their applications. Uruguay (third in the World Rankings for South America) wasn’t ready to apply, while Egypt (third in the World Rankings among African countries) has not played in any Continental Qualification Tournaments. In these circumstances, the FIVB has chosen Puerto Rico, the best Norceca team in the World Rankings after Dominican Republic.

Eight teams will compete in Tokyo for the last four places in the Olympic entry list: Japan (host country), Thailand, Korea, Kazakhstan (best-ranked teams in the Asian Continental Championship), Serbia, Poland (best world-ranked team from CEV), Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico (best world-ranked teams from NORCECA). The tournament also counts as the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament, with the best three teams plus the best Asian team booking their tickets for Beijing.

After a vote during the Board of Administration in 1997, the FIVB has always followed the criteria of maintaining a good balance among the Continents in the Olympic entries, confirmed by a decision of the Board in 2003, taken before the Athens Olympic Games. The respected principle is to support the Continental quota in the Olympic Qualification process and not simply mirror the straight World Ranking list.

Olympic Games 2008 Women's Volleyball
1. China (host country)
2. Italy (1. World Cup)
3. Brazil (2. World Cup)
4. USA (3. World Cup)
5. Algeria (African Qualification Tournament)
6. (Asian Qualification Tournament) *
7. Russia (European Qualification Tournament)
8. Cuba (Norceca Qualification Tournament)
9. Venezuela (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

Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments: Nine teams wait for the drawing of lots in Tokyo
Nine Men’s teams are waiting to know their final destination for the third and final step of the Olympic Qualification process. Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, Puerto Rico, Spain and Tunisia will participate in the drawing of lots at the Keio Plaza Hotel on 3 March 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 organisers and four Asian teams taking part in Japan (the tournament in Tokyo is also the Asian Olympic Qualifier), the participation of nine teams is ensured as per the World Ranking and the relative continental rule (World Ranking in brackets):
3 CEV: Poland (5), Spain (6), Italy (10)
2 NORCECA: Puerto Rico (8), Cuba (17)
2 AVC: Indonesia (7 at Asian Cont. Championship), Chinese Taipei (8 at Asian Cont. Championship)
1 CSV: Argentina (6)
1 CAVB: Tunisia (15)

• 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.
Olympic Games 2008 Men's Volleyball
1. China (host country)
2. Brazil (1. World Cup)
3. Russia (2. World Cup)
4. Bulgaria (3. World Cup)
5. Egypt (African Qualification Tournament)
6. (Asian Qualification Tournament) *
7. Serbia (European Qualification Tournament)
8. U.S.A. (Norceca Qualification Tournament)
9. Venezuela (South American Qualification Tournament)
10. (World Olympic Qualification Tournament - Germany)
11. (World Olympic Qualification Tournament - Japan)
12. (World Olympic Qualification Tournament - Portugal)
* The Asian Continental Qualification Tournaments are played combined with the World Olympic Qualification Tournaments in Japan