Havana, January 12 (JIT) - The teams participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be able to expand their rosters from 12 to 13 players, confirmed the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
For the first time in the history of this competition, each team will have the right to include one non-competing player to replace another due to injury or illness. The replacement will not be allowed to play for the remainder of the tournament.
The decision follows extensive consultation between volleyball's governing body and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with a view to increasing the roster to a range closer to the FIVB's main events, and offering teams greater flexibility and depth.
The thirteenth player will be able to attend matches and train with the team, but will not be accommodated in the Olympic village unless additional support is granted by his Olympic committee.
The FIVB note explains that more information on the procedure will be provided in an updated version of the tournament's competition rules.
The action in the French capital will be a highlight of 2024. The 16th edition of the Olympic volleyball competition will kick off on July 27 and run until August 11 at the South Paris Arena, where the world's best players will gather in the dispute for the titles.
After its debut at Tokyo 1964, volleyball will take the Olympic stage for the first time at a Games held in Paris. On the stage located in the heart of the city, a great battle is expected between 12 women's teams and an equal number of men's teams, all in search of glory.
The FIVB also confirmed the draw process for Paris 2024, taking into account that the participants will be classified by their position in the women's world ranking on June 17 and the men's on June 24.
The 12 teams will be divided into three groups. The host, France, will be placed in the first position of the A group. The two highest-ranked teams in second and third place will head the B and C brackets, respectively.
The remaining nine teams will be distributed in those groups -three teams in each- according to their place in the world ranking and will be drawn according to the serpentine system.
