New One-Year Countdown to Tokyo Olympics Begins
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, July 23, 2020 - With the new schedule of
the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 confirmed last week for the new
dates in 2021, the clock resets today, with exactly one year to
go until the Opening Ceremony.
The volleyball and beach volleyball tournaments begin on July
24, 2021 - the very next day after the Opening Ceremony,
featuring the cream of the world that will keep fans on edge for
the next fortnight.
And while the indoor tournament has not been affected, since the
qualification process and formation of pools was already
completed when the postponement was decided, for the beach event
things remain very much in full swing.
The deadlines for qualification to make up the 24 teams per
gender in the beach tournament have been extended, to reflect
the new dates of the actual Games, both for the qualifying path
through the Olympic Ranking and through the Continental Cup.
Only Japan as hosts, plus Russia (as 2019 world champions), and
Italy and Latvia (as winners of the 2019 Tokyo Qualification
Tournament) have secured their presence at the men's beach
volleyball tournament of the Olympics.
And in the women's tournament it's only hosts Japan, 2019 world
champions Canada plus Spain and Latvia through the 2019 Tokyo
Qualification Tournament that have confirmed their presence in
Tokyo.
The remaining twenty spots per gender are still up for grabs,
promising a very exciting year leading up to the Olympic Games.
All volleyball matches of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be
held at the newly constructed Ariake Arena. The beach volleyball
tournament will be held in a purpose-built temporary venue at
Shiokaze Park. |