Volleyball

THE TWO EVENTS

• 1 men's tournament

• 1 women's tournament

THE FORMAT

12 teams divided into two groups of 6. Following a first round with a round-robin format, the top four teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals. The winner from group A plays the fourth-placed team from group B and so on (A1-B4, A2-B2 or B3, A3-B3 or B2, A4-B1). Semifinals (winner of A1-B4 against winner of A3-B3 or B2, winner of A2-B2 or B3 against winner of A4-B1). Semi-final winners meet in the final and the losers play for the bronze medal.

MILESTONES

1895

Volleyball is created by American William G. Morgan.

1918

The number of players is fixed to six per team.

1922

The number of touches of the ball is set at a maximum of three per team.

1949

The USSR win the first men's world championships.

1952

The first women's world championships take place. Victory for the USSR.

1964

Volleyball becomes an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Games.

2000

Points are scored for the first time after each exchange at an Olympic tournament.

STARS

Alexandre Savin (USSR)

The symbol. Gold medalist at the 1980 Games in Moscow and the symbol of Soviet domination during the 1980s. Five-time European champion and world championship winner in 1982.

Karch Kiraly (United States)

An Olympic champion in 1984 and 1988, this all-around player then added a third title by winning the first Olympic beach volley tournament in 1996. He also won the world title in 1986 and European Champions Cup in 1992.

Regla Torres (Cuba)

The greatest. Triple Olympic champion at the Games in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Double world champion in 1994 and 1998. Her fantastic career was rewarded with the distinction of player of the century allocated by the international federation.