Beach volleyball

• Beach volleyball
  • EVENTS
    24-team tournament for men
    24-team tournament for women
• ATHLETE / NOC QUOTA
  • Athlete quota:
    48 men (24 teams of 2 athletes per team)
    48 women (24 teams of 2 athletes per team)
    Total of 96 athletes
    Maximum per NOC:
    2 men's teams (of 2 athletes per team) and 2 women's teams (of 2athletes per team)
• QUALIFICATION TIMELINE
  • 1 January 2007 - 20 July 2008
    Qualification period for the Olympic qualification tournaments ( i.e. World Championships, World Tour and FIVB Recognized Continental Championships Final events )
    By 21 July 2008
    FIVB to issue the Olympic ranking including the 24 qualified teams per gender meeting the minimum requirements of 8 participations (maximum 2 teams per country). The above 24 teams must feature any eventual places allocated to unqualified continents and the best host country team(s)
    23 July 2008
    Deadline for the NOCs/NFs to send to the FIVB the mandatory official FIVB Olympic Qualification Entry form. Deadline for Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee to receive entry forms submitted by NOCs.
    By 27 July 2008
    FIVB to establish the definitive Olympic roster and Olympic schedule based on the entry forms submitted by each NOC/NF to the FIVB and by NOCs to BOCOG.
• QUALIFICATION SYSTEM
  　 MEN AND WOMEN

1. All teams composed of two (2) athletes registered in each division will be able to accumulate points during the nominated Olympic Qualification Tournaments held world-wide from 1 January 2007 to 20 July 2008.
2. During these two seasons, the teams will be free to choose the Olympic Qualification Tournaments in which they wish to participate.
3. From the total number of Olympic Qualification Tournaments in which they actually participate, only the points accumulated in their eight (8) best performances as a team will be taken into account to determine their position in the FIVB Beach Volleyball Olympic Ranking.
4. No later than 21 July 2008, the FIVB will determine the Beach Volleyball World and Olympic Ranking including 24 teams per gender having participated in at least eight (8) FIVB official Olympic Qualification Tournaments held between 1 January 2007 and 20 July 2008. Within the above 24 teams per gender the FIVB will also allocate eventual places to unqualified continents based on the highest ranked eligible team(s) in the World Ranking and to the host country.
5. Continental Championships Final tournament recognized by the FIVB as Olympic Qualification Tournament may also be considered as one (1) of the eight (8) best performances of a team if such Continental Championships Final tournaments are scheduled by 20 July 2008. Only one (1) result (the best) from two (2) eventual Continental Championship Finals results may be considered.
6. No later than 21 July 2008 the FIVB will then issue the Olympic Ranking featuring the 24 eligible teams per gender.
7. In the event of a tie of points at the end of the Olympic qualification process between two or more teams, the following criteria will apply to break the tie in order to determine the eligible team(s) which can qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games:
   1. The total qualification points accumulated as a team through the Olympic qualification tournaments from January 2007 until 20 July 2008; if a tie still exists.
   2. The total number of Olympic qualification tournaments in which a team has participated in the period from January 2007 until 20 July 2008; if a tie exists.
   3. The best finishes as a team in the Olympic qualification tournaments in the period from January 2007 until 20 July 2008.
8. Not later than 23 July 2008 the FIVB shall receive the official FIVB Olympic Qualification Entry form from those NOCs/NFs having qualified one or more teams. On the same date, Beijing 2008 Olympic Organizing Committee will receive the entry forms submitted by NOCs concerned.
9. No later than 27 July 2008 the FIVB will establish the definitive Olympic roster for Beijing 2008 replacing any eventual team that could not secure the necessary confirmation of its respective NOC and NF by the 23 July 2008.
10. The twenty-four (24) teams of each division that will have the right to participate in the Beach Volleyball Tournaments in Beijing 2008 will be the following:
    1. Olympic Qualification Ranking (23 vacancies)
       The first twenty three (23) teams following the order of the Olympic Qualification Ranking established by the FIVB. The highest ranked teams (maximum two (2) per country) will be automatically selected.
    2. Universality principle (as many vacancies as needed)
       In order to respect the universality principle of the Olympic Games, in the event that a continent does not have any teams qualified, as per 10.1 above, the 23rd place (and, if applicable, the 22nd place, etc.) of the Olympic Qualification ranking will be granted to the highest ranked eligible team (participation, as a team, in at least eight (8) FIVB official Olympic Qualification Tournaments held between 1 January 2007 and 20 July 2008) from that continent in the World Ranking as per 20 July 2008. As one (1) vacancy per gender will be granted to China as host country, the Asian continent will be considered already represented while other continents can still qualify one team through the provisions of this article.
    3. Host nation (up to two (2) vacancies)
       As any nation, the host nation can qualify up to two (2) teams through the regular system, i.e. by having teams ranked in the first twenty-three (23) teams of the Olympic Qualification Ranking.
       In the case where the host nation does not qualify any team, one (1) vacancy will be granted to the highest ranked eligible team (participation, as a team, in at least eight (8) FIVB official Olympic Qualification Tournaments held between 1 January 2007 and 20 July 2008) from the host nation in the World Ranking as per 20 July 2008.