Even before the first service ace or the first flicker of the 1996 flame, followers of the sport of volleyball and the Modern Olympic movement have reveled in festive anticipation. Volleyball and the Games have grown up together, and both are celebrating 100 years as two of the sporting world's brightest attractions.
For volleyball, the rejoicing began in 1995 with its centennial celebration and has continued through to the Centennial Olympic Games. The sport originated in the United States in 1895 and has exploded in global popularity to rank second among the world's favorite participation sports. Underscoring volleyball's worldwide acceptance, the international governing body for volleyball, the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), has become the world's largest sports federation with more than 200 member nations.
But 100 years of universal popularity isn't the only reason to celebrate. After making its Olympic debut in 1964, the volleyball competition features its biggest, and perhaps best, field of competitors in the history of the Games. An increase to 12 teams in the women's tournament gives four more nations a chance to celebrate in 1996, while a boycott-free Olympic Games guarantees the world's top-ranked teams will compete for the gold medal.
In the men's tournament, defending Olympic champion Brazil and reigning world champion Italy head the list of contenders along with the world runner-up from the Netherlands and the host United States. The tournament also marks the first volleyball appearance of a representative from the African continent after Tunisia won its qualifying tournament.
On the women's side, the new, expanded field must face the same old nemesis with world and Olympic champion Cuba returning to defend its crown. Only one team has ever won back-to-back women's gold medals and Brazil, People's Republic of China, Russia and the United States could stand in the way of the Cubans hopes for a championship repeat.
Divided into two pools of six, the teams play a round-robin tournament with the top four teams in each pool advancing to the tournament quarterfinals. Teams qualified for the Games based on their finishes at the 1995 World Cup and continental qualifying tournaments.
Regardless of which team rises to the top of the victory podium, there will be cause for jubilation. Volleyball and the Modern Olympic Games are 100 years old. It's a time to exult with screaming spikes and daredevil digs; to applaud the ace and prolong the rally.
It's a time to cheer a century of removing barriers and changing rules; a century of thrilling fans and uniting countries. Let the celebration continue.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for
the Olympic Games Sports Publication Department. Written by Howard
Thomas.
| The volunteer staff of the 1996 Olympic Games totaled 50,152. They worked an estimated 850,000 shifts. |