FIVB - PARIS 2024 Highlights- Olympic flag bearers, match previews and more!

VOLLEYBALL AND BEACH VOLLEYBALL STARS LEAD THEIR NATIONS AS FLAG BEARERS AT THE ICONIC OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES PARIS 2024

As the world gathers to celebrate the commencement of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the FIVB is thrilled to announce that several volleyball and beach volleyball athletes have been selected to serve as flag bearers for their national delegations during the Opening Ceremony on Friday 26 July. Their selection to undertake this prestigious role is a testament to the athletes’ dedication and embodiment of the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship.

UNPREDICTABLE RACE FOR WOMEN’S OLYMPIC MEDALS TO SERVE OFF ON SATURDAY

Women’s beach volleyball action under the Eiffel Tower at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad is set to start shortly after the men’s, at 18:00 local time on Saturday, with a high-profile meeting between the Chinese pairing of Xia Xinyi and Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Xue Chen, the reigning Asian champions, and Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallists Taliqua Clancy & Mariafe Artacho Del Solar of Australia, setting the tone for an exciting race to the Paris 2024 women’s Olympic podium.

MERCURY RISING WITH COUNTDOWN TO START OF MEN'S OLYMPIC BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Just hours after the flame of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad lights the Olympic cauldron, the Paris 2024 beach volleyball tournament will get underway nearby, with USA’s Miles Partain & Andrew Benesh and Cuba’s Noslen Diaz & Jorge Alayo first hitting the sand at the Games’ most picturesque venue at the foot of the Eiffel Tower on July 27 at 14:00 local time (12:00 UTC). The stellar line-up for the men’s tournament promises huge battles and plenty of excitement on the way to the Olympic podium.

PARIS 2024: FRANCE SET TO FACE STRONG COMPETITION IN POOL A

Pool A will feature hosts and reigning champions France, who will count on the support of their home fans to defend the Olympic title they won three years ago in Tokyo. The Europeans, however, will face highly motivated opponents in Slovenia, Canada and Serbia and will need to earn their place in the elimination rounds.

PARIS 2024: OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS USA AND WORLD CHAMPIONS SERBIA TO CLASH IN POOL A

Pool A will reunite at least three real medal candidates in the Games, with Olympic champions the United States, world champions Serbia and Asian powerhouse China all set to battle for spots in the elimination rounds. The fourth team in the pool, hosts France will need at least one upset to have a chance of moving forward in their Olympic debut.

PARIS 2024: HEAVYWEIGHTS POLAND, ITALY AND BRAZIL MEET IN POOL B

Pool B has three men’s volleyball giants in Poland, Italy and Brazil, who will certainly feature in exciting duels as they compete for the top spot in the group ahead of the elimination rounds. African representatives Egypt will have a big mountain to climb if they want to break pool, but they have delivered upsets in the past and there’s no better place to do it again than the Olympics.

PARIS 2024: BRAZIL FACED WITH VNL MEDALISTS POLAND AND JAPAN IN POOL B

Reuniting teams from four different continents, Pool B features three sides that made it to the semifinals of the Volleyball Nations League 2024 just a month ago - Brazil, Poland and Japan. The fourth national team in the pool, Kenya know they have tough challenges ahead, but will try to improve from their most recent Olympic appearance, at Tokyo 2020.

PARIS 2024: USA, JAPAN, GERMANY AND ARGENTINA FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL IN POOL C

Pool C is absolutely unpredictable as each of the four teams had moments of success over the last few years, with Argentina winning bronze at Tokyo 2020, USA and Germany shining at the Volleyball Olympic Qualifier in 2023 and Japan appearing in the Volleyball Nations League gold medal match in 2024.

PARIS 2024: LAST VNL CHAMPIONS ITALY AND TüRKIYE LEAD POOL C

Pool C has two of the top teams in the event, Italy and Türkiye, which won the last three editions of the Volleyball Nations League. The other two pool components, the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands will need to bring their best game to advance to the elimination rounds.

Information and photo source : FIVB