Volleyball at the Olympics – History and Achievements

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.

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.

Watch BC Game crypto casino volleyball Olympic qualifiers and support your favourite teams with bets. The site covers all the prestigious tournaments: FIVB Volleyball World Cup, CEV Champions League, Olympic Games Volleyball Tournament, African Volleyball Championship, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.

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…