From the gym to the sand, the history of volleyball at the Olympics begins long before its debut in Tokyo 1964. Learn how the game won the hearts of spectators around the world step by step.

How Volleyball Became an Olympic Sport

Volleyball became part of the Olympic programme in 1964 in Tokyo, with the beach version joining the programme 32 years later in Atlanta. As a result, the international status and popularity of the discipline has grown by leaps and bounds, attracting spectators and TV viewers around the world.

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A Brief History of Volleyball

Mintonette was the name of the first version of volleyball invented by William G. Morgan in 1895. It was a synthesis of several sports: tennis, baseball, handball and basketball. The game quickly gained popularity among the residents of the United States, and then spread around the world.

In 1957, at the session of the Olympic Committee, which was held in Bulgaria, the discipline was officially recognised as an Olympic sport. By that time, there were already 115 federations under the aegis of the FIVB. However, volleyball was not included in the 1960 Games in Rome, as changes in the competition calendar were not possible at that time.

Transformation of the Competition Structure

The first Olympic tournament was held with ten men’s and six women’s teams. From 1964 to 1968, the competition was held on a round robin system, and from 1972 onwards, elimination games were introduced. Over the years, the number of teams in the tournaments has increased, which has led to changes in the format of the competition.

Qualification System and Competition Structure

Since 1996, a different qualification system has been introduced for the Olympic Games, including the World Cup and continental qualifiers. All competitions follow the same algorithm and are divided into two phases: group stage and play-offs.

The competition starts with games in two groups (A and B), which are played in a round robin system. The top four place finishers in each group advance to the playoffs, starting with the quarter-finals.

One important feature of the Olympic is that the games are played strictly every other day. Teams that lose to their opponents in the quarter-finals automatically get fifth place. Those who finished fifth in their groups drop to ninth place, while last place teams finish in eleventh place.

Beach Volleyball at the Olympics

Beach volleyball made its Olympic debut in 1992 in Spain. The following year it was recognised as an Olympic sport and was included in the 1996 Games, with competitions for both men and women.

The structure of beach volleyball tournaments includes the following aspects:

• Tournament stages. Each competition starts with group games followed by playoffs.
• Number of teams. There are 24 teams participating in the tournaments.
• Country restrictions. No more than two teams can participate from each country.
• Tournament participants. Host country team, reigning world champions, 2 teams qualified through the World Cup final, 5 Continental Cup winners, top 15 teams according to the International Volleyball Federation ranking.

Impact of Olympic Status on the Development of the Discipline

As volleyball’s status changed, investment in its development increased. Governments of many countries and sports organisations began to invest in the training of national teams. The construction of sports grounds and the development of training programmes for athletes began.

For example, between 2000 and 2020, funding for volleyball programmes in the USA and Brazil increased by 50%. This allowed to improve training conditions for athletes, provide access to the best technologies and training methods.

New Talents

The Olympic Games allow promising athletes to showcase their abilities on the international stage. This motivates young athletes to choose a professional path in volleyball. According to statistics, after each Olympic Games, the number of volleyball players in the world increases by 10-15%.

Volleyball, like other Olympic sports, promotes the values of teamwork, discipline and fair play. The game’s appearance in the Olympics has only reinforced these principles among young people around the world.

Supporting Local Leagues

Fans inspired by the Olympic games have become more willing to follow local leagues and support their teams. In countries with developed sporting infrastructure, this has led to increased stadium attendance and sponsorship deals, which has a positive impact on the further development of the discipline.

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