Volleyball at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Lore & Background

The 2008 Summer Olympics volleyball competitions were held in Beijing from 9 to 24 August 2008. Indoor volleyball took place at the Capital Indoor Stadium and the Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium, while beach volleyball was contested from 9 to 22 August at the Beach Volleyball Ground in Chaoyang Park. Four sets of medals were awarded: men's and women's indoor volleyball (each with 12 teams) and men's and women's beach volleyball (each with 24 teams).

Reader's Guide

The 2008 Summer Olympics volleyball competitions are notable for the introduction of a new ball with a redesigned moulding that made it softer than the previous Mikasa MVP200. This change affected play in both indoor and beach events. The games featured 12 teams per indoor event and 24 teams per beach event, with venues spread across Beijing. The competitions were part of the broader Olympic program and are referenced alongside the 2008 Summer Paralympics volleyball events. The official results were published in separate books for indoor and beach volleyball, and the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball oversaw the qualification and scheduling. These Olympics marked a technical milestone in volleyball equipment design.

Did You Know?

• The 2008 Summer Olympics volleyball competitions introduced a new ball with a softened moulding design.
• Indoor volleyball events were held at Capital Indoor Stadium and Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium.
• Beach volleyball competitions ran from 9 to 22 August 2008 at Chaoyang Park.