Teams confirmed for World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan

Lausanne, Switzerland, January 15, 2016 - The line-up of teams qualified for the Men's and Women's World Olympic and Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament at the Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan has been confirmed. A draw will be held in March.

The eight-team women's competition will take place from May 14 to 22. Japan will be joined by Korea (World Rank 9), Thailand (WR 13), Kazakhstan (WR 26) - the top three Asian teams in the FIVB World Ranking, the Netherlands (WR 14) and Italy (WR 8), respectively second and third at the European Olympic Qualification Tournament, Peru, who were second at the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament, and the Dominican Republic, second at the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament.

The eight-team men's competition will take place from May 28 to June 5. Hosts Japan will be joined by Iran (World Rank 8), Australia (WR 13), China (WR 19) - the top three Asian teams in the FIVB World Ranking, France (WR 10) and Poland (WR 2) - who were respectively second and third at the European Olympic Qualification Tournament, Venezuela (WR 20), who were second at the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament, and Canada, second at the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament.

In each gender, the top three ranked teams plus the best ranked Asian team will qualify for the Olympics. If an Asian team is ranked among the top three, then the next ranked team will be qualified.

The final vacancy per gender for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be decided at a second World Olympic Qualification Tournament due to be held in the period from May 14 to June 5, 2016. The third placed team from the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament, the third placed team from the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament and the second and third placed teams from the African Olympic Qualification Tournament will compete for the last berth.

Read more about the Olympic qualification process here.