Intercontinental Rounds for Beijing 2008

Tournaments in Germany, Portugal, Japan
• 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.
Drawing of lots: 3 best ranked teams from Europe (Poland, Spain, Italy), 2 from Norceca (Puerto Rico, Cuba), 1 from South America (Argentina), 1 from Africa (Tunisia), 2 from Asia (Indonesia, Chinese Taipei). The drawing of lots will be conducted in Tokyo, 3 March 2008

News:
Teams arrive for Men's Olympic qualifier in Düsseldorf after mixed fortunes in warm-ups

Spain's Jose Luis Molto spikes during the 2007 FIVB Men's World Cup. He'll be hoping to be on form in Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf, May 22, 2008 – Cuba, Spain and Chinese Taipei joined host Germany in Düsseldorf on Wednesday as the excitement started to build ahead of the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia, with the teams coming into the tournament with varying degrees of success in their preparations.

The Germans, who have been in the city since May 18, play Chinese Taipei in the opening match at ISS Dome on Friday at 5 p.m. before Spain plays Cuba at 8 p.m. local time.

The four teams are competing for the one coveted ticket up for grabs for the Beijing Games.

There has been a mixed bag of preparations ahead of the tournament, which just adds to the excitement. Chinese Taipei, a young up-and-coming team who finished eighth at the 2007 Asian Championship, will be competing against reigning European champion Spain, who played Italy twice during their preparations and lost both matches 3-1.

Cuba competed in a tournament in Slovenia and recorded three defeats (3-2 and 3-1 to Slovenia and 3-1 by Portugal) and one win (3-1 over Portugal).

The Germans finished their preparation by losing two friendly matches to the USA. Besides “normal” training in the arena and fitness centre, the German team also have taken part in some team-building activities. Together with team psychologist Dr. Wolfgang Kloeckner, the players tried their luck on tightropes at Lake Unterbach and cooked their own dinner Wednesday evening.

Central blocker Stefan Huebner of Treviso in Italy has participated in all team activities. He has been carefully increasing training intensity after tearing muscle fibre in his left calf and was aiming to be among the final 12 players nominated on Wednesday evening in order to help the Germans book a ticket for their first participation in the Olympics for 36 years.

The two other Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments take place in Espinho, Portugal, from May 30 to June 1, where one team from four will qualify, and Tokyo, Japan, from May 31 to June 8, where the winner of the tournament plus the best Asian team (even if the winner is Asian) will qualify.

Portugal hosts Indonesia, Poland and Puerto Rico, while Japan hosts Algeria, Argentina, Italy, Australia, Korea, Iran and Thailand, in the tournament that doubles up as the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The Women’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament is ongoing in Tokyo, Japan, with eight teams competing for the final four berths for the Women’s Olympic Volleyball Tournament.

Match schedule in Düsseldorf, Germany:

* All times are local

Friday, May 23
Chinese Taipei vs. Germany (17:00)
Spain vs. Cuba (20:00)

Saturday, May 24
Spain vs. Chinese Taipei (17:00)
Cuba vs. Germany (20:00)

Sunday, May 25
Chinese Taipei vs. Cuba (12:00)
Germany vs. Spain (15:00)

Information
Information about the Men's World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Düsseldorf is at: http://www.volleyball2008.de

Press Conference
There is a press conference for journalists with the four Head Coaches Stelian Moculescu (Germany), Orlando Samuels Blackwood (Cuba), Marcelo Mendez (Spain) and Jung Hsiang Chang (Chinese Taipei) at the Renaissance Hotel on Thursday, May 22, from 9:30 p.m.

If Spain is with Puerto Rico - no chance for Spain - Puerto Rico will smash them!
http://www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyb…ory=2&MatchNo=28&No=15707

Quote from Nastja

FIVB announced that the drawing of lots will take place in Tokio on March the 3rd. This is later than expected.

Hah, where have you read this?

Algeria to represent Africa in Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments

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After the success of the World Cup, Japan is ready to host two World Olympic Qualification Tournaments</td>
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Lausanne,
February 19, 2008 - The Vice-Champion of the African Olympic
Qualification, the Algerian Men’s team, has confirmed its participation
in any of the three Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments in
late May. The Algerian Women’s team has already qualified for the
Olympics for the first time after winning their African Qualification
Tournament in January. The Men’s team finished runners-up to Egypt in
their African qualifier in early February and have now been given the
opportunity to earn a berth in Beijing.

Algeria become
one of nine men’s teams waiting to know their final destination for the
third and final step of the Olympic Qualification process. The
Africans, along with Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Indonesia, Italy,
Poland, Puerto Rico and Spain will participate in the drawing of lots
at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo on March 3 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 organizing countries and four Asian
teams taking part in Japan (the tournament in Tokyo is also the Asian
Olympic Qualifier), the participation of nine teams was ensured as per
the World Ranking and the relative continental rule:
3 CEV: Poland, Spain, Italy
2 NORCECA: Puerto Rico, Cuba
2 AVC: Indonesia, Chinese Taipei
1 CSV: Argentina
1 CAVB: Algeria

• 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

All eyes on Tokyo as drawing of lots for Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments approaches

Italy will take part in the drawing of lots in Tokyo on March 3
Lausanne, March 1, 2008 – Nine Men’s Volleyball national teams have a date with destiny in Tokyo on Monday as they find out their third and final step in the Olympic qualification process.

Algeria, Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, Puerto Rico and Spain representatives will draw lots at the Keio Plaza Hotel on March 3 starting at 3 p.m. local time to decide entry to one of the three FIVB Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournaments.

The tournaments will be played in Düsseldorf, Germany, Espinho, Portugal, and Tokyo in late May and decide the final four places up for grabs in the Beijing Olympics Men’s Volleyball tournament.

In addition to the three organizing countries and four Asian teams taking part in Japan (the tournament in Tokyo is also the Asian Olympic Qualifier), the participation of the nine teams was ensured as per the World Ranking and the relative continental rule:
3 CEV: Poland, Spain, Italy
2 NORCECA: Puerto Rico, Cuba
2 AVC: Indonesia, Chinese Taipei
1 CSV: Argentina
1 CAVB: Algeria

• May 23-25, Düsseldorf, 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. USA (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

Everybody who goes to Dusseldorf goes to hell, oh only one day left, I cant wait.

Quote from Konrad

With all the respect to Germans, team which want to play for good places in Bejing can't be affraid of German team in Duesseldorf. Even if they're the hosts. But I prefer Poland to play in Portugal

Ukhm. ukhm! I'm sorry but Poland played in Portugal 4 years ago in the same qualification. And in the World League you will play with China, Japan and Egypt. I see Wlazly is OK now, Winiarski, Kadziewicz... so you don't have to worry. Germany is hard opponent I saw them against Serbia. But Poland will qualify, you'll see, I want big battles.

Quote from Justyna

Poland will be play in Portugal, Italy in Germany and Spain in Japan

Who told you this?