Volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Lore & Background

The volleyball events at the 2020 Summer Olympics were originally scheduled for 2020 but were delayed to 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee made the postponement announcement on 24 March 2020. The tournaments ultimately took place from 24 July to 8 August 2021, retaining the 2020 designation.

Reader's Guide

The 2020 Summer Olympics volleyball tournaments represent a unique moment in Olympic history, as they were the first Games to be postponed and held a year later than originally planned. The indoor volleyball competition featured 24 teams and was hosted at Ariake Arena, while the beach volleyball tournament included 48 teams at the temporary Shiokaze Park Stadium. The qualification pathways for these events were confirmed by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball on 23 September 2018. The medal table and final standings for both indoor and beach volleyball competitions were recorded, with Japan serving as the host nation. These tournaments demonstrated the resilience of international sport in the face of a global health crisis, maintaining the Olympic spirit despite unprecedented scheduling changes.

Did You Know?

• The tournaments were played between 24 July and 8 August 2021.
• The postponement was announced on 24 March 2020 by the IOC and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee.