No 126 May 2004 English edition FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE VOLLEYBALL Qualification Process for Olympic Volleyball Competition Completed The Netherlands men’s team claimed the 12th and final ticket for the Volleyball competition at the 2004 Olympics in Athens after beating hosts Spain to win the World Olympic Qualification tournament in Madrid at the end of May. The tournament in Spain was the last tournament offering Olympic qualifi- cation tickets following a seven-month process for both men and women start- ing in November 2003 with the World Cup in Japan. With hosts Greece already qualified, 11 Olympic tickets were up for grabs for each gender, with three going to the medalists at the World Cup, one ticket each going to the winner of the Continen- tal Olympic qualification tournaments at the start of the year and four more on offer at the World Olympic qualification tournaments in May. The Netherlands rejoice having confirmed their qualification for the Olympic Games In the men’s competition Brazil, Italy and Serbia and Montenegro finished on the podium at the World Cup while Russia, Olympic qualification tournaments in ification ticket as the Asian Continental USA, Argentina and Tunisia won their Portugal and Spain respectively while Olympic qualifier, which went to second respective Continental Olympic quali- France won the World Olympic qualifica- placed Australia. fication tournaments. Poland and the tion tournament in Tokyo, Japan, which Netherlands were victorious at the World also offered a Continental Olympic qual- In the women’s draw, China, Brazil and USA claimed the top three spots at Definitive 12 Women’s Definitive 12 Men’s the World Cup while Germany, Cuba, Olympic qualification berths Olympic qualification berths Dominican Republic and Kenya won their respective Continental Olympic 1. Greece host 1. Greece host qualification tournaments. There was 2. China 1st World Cup 2. Brazil 1st World Cup one World Olympic qualification tourna- 3. Brazil 2nd World Cup 3. Italy 2nd World Cup ment in Tokyo, Japan, which also offered 4. USA 3rd World Cup 4. Serbia & Mont. 3rd World Cup a Continental Olympic qualification 5. Germany Europe COT 5. Russia Europe COT ticket as the Asian Continental Olympic 6. Cuba Norceca COT 6. USA Norceca COT qualifier, with Japan, Korea, Russia and 7. Dominican Rep. South America COT 7. Argentina South America COT Italy all qualifying. 8. Kenya Africa COT 8. Tunisia Africa COT 9. Japan OQT winner Tokyo 9. Netherlands OQT winner Madrid 10. Korea OQT best Asian 10. France OQT winner Tokyo See more details of each of the World 11. Russia OQT best ranked 11. Australia OQT best Asian Olympic Qualification tournaments on 12. Italy OQT 2nd best ranked 12. Poland OQT winner Porto pages 2, 3 and 4. Find out more at www.fivb.org VOLLEYBALL Results Date Teams Result per set (points) Women - Tokyo Olympic qualification tournament 1 2 3 4 5 Japan, Korea, Russia & Italy claim last tickets 08.05 TPE-PUR 1-3 23-25 21-25 25-21 21-25 KOR-THA 3-1 24-26 25-14 25-16 25-8 RUS-NGR 3-0 25-10 25-10 25-7 ITA-JPN 2-3 18-25 25-23 18-25 25-20 13-15 09.05 KOR-TPE 3-0 25-20 26-24 25-11 PUR-RUS 0-3 17-25 13-25 23-25 NGR-ITA 0-3 18-25 13-25 7-25 THA-JPN 0-3 10-25 14-25 20-25 11.05 TPE-THA 0-3 21-25 23-25 20-25 Japan Korea RUS-KOR 2-3 25-15 20-25 25-23 22-25 13-15 ITA-PUR 3-0 25-17 25-13 25-16 JPN-NGR 3-0 25-10 25-9 25-19 12.05 KOR-ITA 3-2 17-25 10-25 25-17 25-18 18-16 THA-NGR 3-0 25-16 25-10 25-13 TPE-RUS 0-3 10-25 14-25 17-25 PUR-JPN 0-3 23-25 11-25 23-25 14.05 NGR-PUR 0-3 17-25 18-25 16-25 RUS-THA 3-0 25-15 25-18 25-12 Italy Russia ITA-TPE 3-0 25-15 25-19 25-16 JPN-KOR 3-0 Ranking 25-19 25-19 25-15 15.05 THA-PUR 3-0 25-21 25-17 25-23 Rk Country Points Matches Sets Points RUS-ITA 2-3 Won Lost Won Lost Ratio Won Lost Ratio 25-18 25-22 15-25 17-25 14-16 KOR-NGR 3-0 1 Japan 13 6 1 18 6 3.000 565 445 1.270 25-17 25-14 25-13 2 Korea 13 6 1 18 8 2.250 576 493 1.168 TPE-JPN 1-3 27-25 11-25 19-25 22-25 3 Russia 12 5 2 19 6 3.167 576 432 1.333 16.05 PUR-KOR 0-3 4 Italy 12 5 2 19 8 2.375 606 477 1.270 19-25 15-25 15-25 5 Thailand 10 3 4 10 12 0.833 422 488 0.865 NGR-TPE 0-3 18-25 23-25 21-25 6 Puerto Rico 9 2 5 6 16 0.375 437 516 0.847 ITA-THA 3-0 7 Chinese Taipei 8 1 6 5 18 0.278 454 559 0.812 25-16 25-14 25-14 JPN-RUS 0-3 8 Nigeria 7 0 7 0 21 0 299 525 0.570 20-25 18-25 19-25 VOLLEYBALL khstan. “The third game sealed our route to Athens but it was our victory over Men - Porto qualification tournament Portugal in the second match which was Poland claim Olympic qualifying spot the key to our success,” said Zagummy. “Most important thing was that we did Poland secured a place at the 2004 Ath- until this point we have only been think- not underestimate Kazakhstan. We had ens Olympics with a comprehensive 3-0 ing about this tournament and not about to make sure we played our best against defeat of Kazakhstan in their third and playing in the Olympic Games - but it them.” final match of the Olympic Qualifying feels great to have claimed our place in Portugal were unable to bounce back Tournament in Porto in May. Athens,” said Poland coach Stanislaw from their disappointment at losing to The 25-15, 25-13, 25-22 victory left Poland Gosciniak, who was part of the Polish Poland – a defeat that effectively put with an unbeaten record in the event and team that won the 1976 Olympic gold in paid to their Olympic qualifying chan- followed their thrilling five-set defeat of Montreal. “It is too early to say what we ces – and Juan Diaz’s team had to settle hosts Portugal the evening before. can achieve in Athens. Only now we can for third place in the Porto standings. The Poles also beat Venezuela 3-0 in their begin our preparations and we have a lot “Venezuela were very well organized and opening tie. Second place in the stand- of hard work ahead of us.” Polish captain more focused than we were today,” said ings went to Venezuela after the Pan Pawel Zagummy explained how it was Portugal’s Brazilian coach Juan Diaz. American champions defeated Portugal crucial that his team were not compla- “We played well against Poland on Sat- 26-24, 27-25, 25-21 in the final game. “Up cent going into the game against Kaza- urday but we were beaten at the end by a 2 FIVB X-Press No 126 May 2004 VOLLEYBALL Results Date Teams Result per set (points) Men - Tokyo Olympic qualification tournament 1 2 3 4 5 France & Australia seal Olympic two of the last spots 22.05 CAN-IRI 3-0 25-20 25-20 28-26 KOR-CHN 0-3 France clinched a seat in the men’s Vol- It was Australia’s fifth win against one 19-25 23-25 22-25 leyball competition at the Athens Olym- setback. For China, the loss was its sec- AUS-FRA 0-3 pics when it toppled Japan 3-2 in a close ond against four victories, and still keeps 18-25 28-30 26-28 match to keep its record unblemished a slim chance for the trip to Athens. ALG-JPN 0-3 14-25 15-25 18-25 with sixth victories in the eight-team “I’m really proud of my team”, said Aus- 23.05 IRI-KOR 3-0 Olympic Qualification tournament in tralian head coach Jon Uriarte. “We have 25-18 25-21 25-16 Tokyo, Japan. been working hard for these three years. FRA-CAN 3-0 France outclassed Japan in power and My players are playing a really good vol- 25-22 25-23 25-21 skill and overcame a fierce challenge by leyball together.” ALG-AUS 0-3 17-25 22-25 16-25 the Japanese after dropping the second Chinese head coach Di Anhe said: “Aus- JPN-CHN 2-3 and fourth sets. tralia played very well. We played too 25-27 25-20 22-25 25-22 16-18 The win confirmed France’s ticket with cautiously.” 25.05 CHN-IRI 3-1 one game still to play while for Japan, 25-16 25-23 31-33 25-22 Australia claim second Olympic KOR-FRA 0-3 whose Olympic hopes had already been 16-25 13-25 16-25 dashed, the defeat was its fifth against ticket CAN-ALG 3-0 one victory. Despite suffering a 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25- 25-13 25-16 25-21 The winner of the tournament and the 23) defeat at the hands of Iran, Australia AUS-JPN 3-2 No.