144 European Athletes set to take the Olympic stage
Tokyo 2020 Games
#Tokyo2020
The world has had to wait longer than it usually does to feel that Olympic spirit and gasp as the world’s most elite performers come together and face off, all chasing that sporting pinnacle of Olympic Gold. If you ask the athletes of pretty much any sport what the ultimate is, they will say to qualify for, or top the podium at an Olympic Games. Again on the sporting programme for Tokyo 2020 are Volleyball and Beach Volleyball for both men and women, with Europe again having a strong representation in the teams that have qualified.
Four of the twelve men’s and women’s teams set to compete in the newly-built 15,000-capacity Ariake Arena are from Europe. An impressive third of the total number of teams considering there are 5 confederations all vying for spots.
In the Volleyball men’s competition France, Italy (pictured), Poland and ROC* will all travel to the other side of the world with real aspirations of returning with a medal. In the women’s competition there are Italy, ROC*, Serbia and Turkey who are all flying the flag for their respective nations as well as Europe.
While in Beach Volleyball there are 13 men’s teams and 11 women’s teams who will take to the sand at a 12,000-capacity custom-built temporary stadium in the Japanese capital's magnificent Shiokaze Park. With nearly 13,000 trees and thousands of other plants, Shiokaze Park is the largest park on the Tokyo waterfront area of Odaiba. Shiokaze Park affords exquisite views of Tokyo's iconic Rainbow Bridge and the beautiful Tokyo Bay and is sure to be one of the visual highlights of the Games once again.
With 24 European Beach Volleyball teams combined, that number accounts for half the total number of spots on offer, further demonstrating the dominance that the ‘old continent’ has on the global Beach Volleyball scene. With teams such as Mol A./Sørum, C., Krasilnikov/Stoyanovskiy (ROC), and Brouwer/Meeuwsen (NED) in men’s and Heidrich/Vergé-Dépré, A. (SUI), Makroguzova/Kholomina (ROC) and Ludwig/Kozuch (GER) all holding strong positions in the current world rankings, hopes are high for more European success on the beach.
Guiding their athletes through the next month or so will be their coaches and support staff who have all reached their own summits in attending an Olympics. Europe will also have strong presence in the officiating and event based roles that are also critical to the success of the event.
*representing the Russian Olympic Committee
#TakingtheStage
The Games of the XXXII Olympiad is scheduled to be held from 23 July to 8 August 2021, with Tokyo winning the right to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the International Olympic Committee's 125th Session in Buenos Aires in 2013, beating the other two European candidates of Istanbul and Madrid. It is the second time that Tokyo gets to host the Olympic Games, after 1964 when volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Programme for the first time.
To help those from around Europe follow the Games, stay up to date with the results and on court performances of European athletes, as well as what is happening around the village and away from the spotlight, we are excited to launch our #TakingtheStage initiative pulling everything together into one place.
Check out our dedicated pages, one for each sport, while also look out for social content going out from today until after the medallists are known – where we hope to celebrate some more European success on the world stage.
Wind back five years, both Volleyball and Beach Volleyball were signature events at Rio 2016, and played in the Brazilian city’s most iconic venues – the Maracanazinho and Copacabana Beach.
Hosts Brazil excelled in both disciplines, with one medal in volleyball and two medals in beach volleyball. Italy got two silver medals, while the United States bagged three bronze medals.
China scored their third Olympic gold medal when they won over Serbia in the women’s volleyball final, while Germany got gold in women’s beach volleyball.
Serbia and the Netherlands had their moments too when they earned silver and bronze medals in women’s volleyball and men’s beach volleyball, respectively.
Volleyball | Men
1. Brazil
2. Italy
3. United States
Volleyball | Women
1. China
2. Serbia
3. United States
Beach Volleyball | Men
1. Brazil – Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt
2. Italy – Paolo Nicolai/Daniele Lupo
3. Netherlands – Alexander Brouwer/Robert Meeuwsen
Beach Volleyball | Women
1. Germany – Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst
2. Brazil – Agatha Bednarczuk/Barbara Seixas
3. United States – Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross