(BEIJING, January 27) -- The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced recently in Lausanne that the drawing of lots for the World Qualification Tournaments for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo on March 3, 2008.
Since the Olympic continental qualification tournaments are still in progress, the FIVB is actively preparing for the last accreditation of the World Tournaments to make sure the top 24 men and women's teams qualify for the Olympic Games.
The men's world qualification tournaments will be held in Germany, Japan and Portugal in May. The seven teams qualified to compete in the World Qualification Tournaments include the three host counties and the four top-ranked countries in the Asian Continental Championship. The FIVB will decide on the last nine teams by a drawing of lots.
The teams qualifying for the drawing of lots for the nine berths of the men's World Olympic Qualification Tournament are: (Number in the bracket is the team's world ranking)
Europe (three seats): Poland (fifth), Spain (sixth) and Italy (tenth)
NORCECA (two seats): Puerto Rico (eighth) and Cube (seventeenth)
Asia (two seats): Indonesia (seventh in the Asian Championships) and Chinese Taipei (eighth in the Asian Championships)
South America (one seat): Argentina (sixth)
Africa (one seat): to be determined
The Olympic World Qualification Tournament German leg will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany between May 23 and 25, 2008. The German men's team and three other teams that are decided by a drawing of lots will compete for one berth for the Olympic Games.
The Olympic World Qualification Tournament Portuguese leg will held in Espinho of Portugal between May 30 and June 1, 2008. The Portuguese men's team and three other teams that are decided by a drawing of lots will fight for the Olympic ticket.
The Olympic World Qualification Tournament Japanese leg and Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament will be held together in Tokyo. The Japanese men's team will compete for a top-four position among the countries in the Asian Continental Championship. In addition, three other teams that are decided by a drawing of lots will compete for two Olympic quotas. The champion of the Japanese leg will qualify for the Olympic Games automatically.
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