Volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Lore & Background

The competition consisted of two stages for indoor volleyball: a preliminary round followed by a knockout stage. In the preliminary round, teams were divided into two groups of six countries, playing every team in their group once. Three points were awarded for a 3–0 or 3–1 win, two points for a 3–2 win, one point for a 2–3 loss, and 0 points for a 1–3 or 0–3 loss. The top four teams per group qualified for the quarter-finals. Both men's and women's indoor competitions followed this format.

Reader's Guide

The 2016 Summer Olympics volleyball tournaments marked a significant gathering of global talent, with 386 athletes representing their nations. The indoor events at Ginásio do Maracanãzinho and beach events at Copacabana Beach drew widespread attention. The qualification rules allowed each National Olympic Committee to enter one men's and one women's team in volleyball, and two men's and two women's teams in beach volleyball. The scoring system in the preliminary round—awarding three points for a regulation win and two for a five-set win—encouraged competitive balance. The tournament's structure, with group play leading to knockout stages, ensured that only the top four from each group advanced. This event remains a reference point for Olympic volleyball, showcasing both indoor and beach disciplines on a single stage.

Did You Know?

• The volleyball tournaments at the 2016 Summer Olympics were played between 6 and 21 August.
• A total of 386 athletes participated across indoor and beach volleyball events.
• The indoor volleyball competition took place at Ginásio do Maracanãzinho in Maracanã.
• The beach volleyball tournament was held at Copacabana Beach in the temporary Copacabana Stadium.