Beijing Olympics 2008 Volleyball Events

History of Volleyball Sports:

• Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan.
• It was initially called "Mintonette".
• It evolved into its modern form in the early 1900s.
• Volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1964.

Competition Rules for Volleyball Sports:

The Volleyball competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be held in accordance with:

• The FIVB Official Volleyball Rules
• The Olympic Charter
• FIVB assumes the responsibility for the technical control and direction of Volleyball in the Olympic Games.

Playing Area for Volleyball Sports:

The playing area includes the playing court and the free zone.

Playing Area Dimensions:

• The playing court is a rectangle measuring 18 x 9 m.
• The court should be surrounded by a free zone measuring 3 m wide on all sides.
• The free playing space should be atleast of 7 m in height from the playing surface.
• For FIVB World and Official Competitions, the free zone should be atleast 5 m from the sidelines and 8 m from the end lines.

Playing Surface:

• The surface must be flat, horizontal and uniform.
• It should not be rough or slippery.
• For FIVB World and Official Competitions, only wooden or synthetic surfaces are allowed.
• The surface must be previously approved by the FIVB.
• On indoor courts the surface of the playing court must be of a light color.

Lines on the Courts:

• All lines are 5 cm wide.
• They should be marked with a contrasting color.
• Two sidelines and two end lines mark the playing court.
• Both sidelines and end lines are drawn inside the dimensions of the playing court.
• The Centre line divides the playing court into two equal courts measuring 9 x 9 m each.
• The Attack line marks the front zone.

Volleyball Sports Events:

The following events are included in the program for Beijing Olympics 2008:

• Volleyball Men
• Volleyball Women

Venues for Volleyball Sports:

• The volleyball event of the 29th Olympic Games will be held in Beijing from August 9-24, 2008.
• The preliminary competitions will be held at the Capital Indoor Stadium and Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium.
• The finals will be held at the Capital Indoor Stadium.

Athlete Quota:

• 144 men (12 teams of 12 athletes per team)
• 144 women (12 teams of 12 athletes per team)
• Total of 288 athletes