Lausanne, Switzerland, January 3, 2015 – Whilst the attention of most senior athletes in 2015 will almost certainly be on qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, there will be many competing at the six FIVB age-group World Championships who could potentially be already eyeing up the Tokyo 2020 Games when they take to the court around the world this year.
Although some could technically feature at the Rio Olympics, many are likely to make their names at the 2020 edition of the Games, meaning 2015 will give fans an early insight into some of the talent that will be on display.
The action starts in Cyprus with the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship. USA, Cuba, Japan, Peru and hosts Cyprus have never finished on the top spot of the podium with China back to defend their crown and aim to make it a third title. Brazil slumped from second in 2011 to third in 2013 so will also be looking to turn their fortunes and win a seventh title. Two more teams will join from Africa and Europe respectively, the latter being decided through a CEV Qualification tournament this May. The remaining five spots decided through the world rankings with the five next-best placed teams yet to qualify through continental tournaments earning a ticket to the competition.
Although some could technically feature at the Rio Olympics, many are likely to make their names at the 2020 edition of the Games, meaning 2015 will give fans an early insight into some of the talent that will be on display.
The action starts in Cyprus with the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship. USA, Cuba, Japan, Peru and hosts Cyprus have never finished on the top spot of the podium with China back to defend their crown and aim to make it a third title. Brazil slumped from second in 2011 to third in 2013 so will also be looking to turn their fortunes and win a seventh title. Two more teams will join from Africa and Europe respectively, the latter being decided through a CEV Qualification tournament this May. The remaining five spots decided through the world rankings with the five next-best placed teams yet to qualify through continental tournaments earning a ticket to the competition.
The 14th edition of the Girls’ U18 World Championship will then take place in Peru. China won their fourth title at the last tournament in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand seeing off the United States in the final. Both 2013 finalists have already confirmed their participation at the tournament along with Japan, Thailand, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Brazil, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico and hosts Peru. Six more will join them from Europe following the conclusion of the CEV Girls' U18 Championship taking place in Bulgaria from March 28 - April 5 this year.
The Women’s U23 World Championship will then be held in Turkey with the hosts hoping for success on home soil in just the second edition of the tournament. Defending champions China are yet to qualify and will be given their chance at the continental Women’s U23 Championship in Philippines in May as will bronze medallists Japan. However silver medallists Dominican Republic will be there to go one further as will Egypt and Tunisia who will make their debuts in the tournament. Cuba also return with a pair of teams from CEV set to qualify later this year. The last place will go to the highest-placed women’s team in the world rankings yet to qualify.
Just four teams have qualified for the Men’s U23 World Championship so far. The United Arab Emirates will compete for the first time as hosts of the tournament. They were joined by Brazil and and Argentina following the conclusion of the CSV U22 Men’s Championship last October as well as Egypt and Tunisia as the African qualifiers.
The Men’s U21 World Championship will also welcome 16 teams to Mexico this year. Russia will be looking to make it a hat-trick of titles but need to come through the CEV Qualification tournament this May with two berths up for grabs. Cuba return for the first time since 2009 and they will meet 2013 silver medallists Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Iran and China. Two more teams will join from Africa with five more from the world ranking.
The only date not settled yet is the Boys’ U19 World Championship which will take place in Argentina. Russia won the last tournament after beating China in the final and the Chinese will be looking to go one better after earning their berth through the AVC Boys’ U19 Championship by finishing third last September. Iran, Japan and Chinese Taipei also guaranteed their place at the tournament as did Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and hosts Argentina. USA and Puerto Rico return for the first time since 2011. That leaves three spots for the African representatives which are also to be decided as well as six for Europe which will be decided at the CEV Boys' U19 Championship in Turkey from April 4-12.
Girls’ U18 World Championship confirmed teams (20 vacances)
Hosts: Peru
AVC: Japan, Thailand, China, Korea (4 vacances)
CAVB: Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria (3 vacances)
CEV: 6 vacances TBC (CEV Girls' U18 Championship, March 28 - April 5, 2015, Bulgaria)
CSV: Brazil, Argentina, Peru (3 vacances)
NORCECA: Dominican Republic, USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico (4 vacances)
Boys’ U19 World Championship confirmed teams (20 vacances)
Hosts: Argentina
AVC: Iran, Japan, China, Chinese Taipei (4 vacances)
CAVB : TBC (3 vacances)
CEV : 6 vacances TBC (CEV Boys' U19 Championship, April 4-12, 2015, Turkey)
CSV : Argentina, Brazil, Chile (3 vacances)
NORCECA : USA, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico (4 vacances)
Women’s U20 World Championship confirmed teams (16 vacances)
Hosts: Cyprus
AVC: China, Japan (2 vacances)
CAVB: TBC (2 vacances)
CEV: 2 vacances TBC (CEV Qualification tournament 2nd Round May 14-17, 2015)
CSV: Brazil, Peru (2 vacances)
NORCECA: USA, Cuba (2 vacances)
Men’s U21 World Championship confirmed teams (16 vacances)
Hosts: Mexico
AVC: Iran, China (2 vacances)
CAVB: TBC (2 vacances)
CEV: 2 vacances TBC (CEV Qualification tournament 2nd Round May 14-17, 2015)
CSV: Brazil, Argentina (2 vacances)
NORCECA: Cuba, Canada (2 vacances)
Women’s U23 World Championship confirmed teams (12 vacances)
Hosts: Turkey
AVC: 2 vacances TBC (AVC Women's U23 Championship, May 1-9, 2015, Philippines)
CAVB: Egypt, Tunisia (2 vacances)
CEV: TBC (2 vacances)
CSV: Brazil, Colombia (2 vacances)
NORCECA: Dominican Republic, Cuba (2 vacances)
Men’s U23 World Championship confirmed teams (12 vacances)
Hosts: United Arab Emirates
AVC: 2 vacances TBC (AVC Men's U23 Championship, May 12-20, 2015, Iran)
CAVB: Egypt, Tunisia
CEV: TBC (2 vacances)
CSV: Brazil, Argentina (2 vacances)
NORCECA: TBC (2 vacances)
The Women’s U23 World Championship will then be held in Turkey with the hosts hoping for success on home soil in just the second edition of the tournament. Defending champions China are yet to qualify and will be given their chance at the continental Women’s U23 Championship in Philippines in May as will bronze medallists Japan. However silver medallists Dominican Republic will be there to go one further as will Egypt and Tunisia who will make their debuts in the tournament. Cuba also return with a pair of teams from CEV set to qualify later this year. The last place will go to the highest-placed women’s team in the world rankings yet to qualify.
Just four teams have qualified for the Men’s U23 World Championship so far. The United Arab Emirates will compete for the first time as hosts of the tournament. They were joined by Brazil and and Argentina following the conclusion of the CSV U22 Men’s Championship last October as well as Egypt and Tunisia as the African qualifiers.
The Men’s U21 World Championship will also welcome 16 teams to Mexico this year. Russia will be looking to make it a hat-trick of titles but need to come through the CEV Qualification tournament this May with two berths up for grabs. Cuba return for the first time since 2009 and they will meet 2013 silver medallists Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Iran and China. Two more teams will join from Africa with five more from the world ranking.
The only date not settled yet is the Boys’ U19 World Championship which will take place in Argentina. Russia won the last tournament after beating China in the final and the Chinese will be looking to go one better after earning their berth through the AVC Boys’ U19 Championship by finishing third last September. Iran, Japan and Chinese Taipei also guaranteed their place at the tournament as did Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and hosts Argentina. USA and Puerto Rico return for the first time since 2011. That leaves three spots for the African representatives which are also to be decided as well as six for Europe which will be decided at the CEV Boys' U19 Championship in Turkey from April 4-12.
Girls’ U18 World Championship confirmed teams (20 vacances)
Hosts: Peru
AVC: Japan, Thailand, China, Korea (4 vacances)
CAVB: Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria (3 vacances)
CEV: 6 vacances TBC (CEV Girls' U18 Championship, March 28 - April 5, 2015, Bulgaria)
CSV: Brazil, Argentina, Peru (3 vacances)
NORCECA: Dominican Republic, USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico (4 vacances)
Boys’ U19 World Championship confirmed teams (20 vacances)
Hosts: Argentina
AVC: Iran, Japan, China, Chinese Taipei (4 vacances)
CAVB : TBC (3 vacances)
CEV : 6 vacances TBC (CEV Boys' U19 Championship, April 4-12, 2015, Turkey)
CSV : Argentina, Brazil, Chile (3 vacances)
NORCECA : USA, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico (4 vacances)
Women’s U20 World Championship confirmed teams (16 vacances)
Hosts: Cyprus
AVC: China, Japan (2 vacances)
CAVB: TBC (2 vacances)
CEV: 2 vacances TBC (CEV Qualification tournament 2nd Round May 14-17, 2015)
CSV: Brazil, Peru (2 vacances)
NORCECA: USA, Cuba (2 vacances)
Men’s U21 World Championship confirmed teams (16 vacances)
Hosts: Mexico
AVC: Iran, China (2 vacances)
CAVB: TBC (2 vacances)
CEV: 2 vacances TBC (CEV Qualification tournament 2nd Round May 14-17, 2015)
CSV: Brazil, Argentina (2 vacances)
NORCECA: Cuba, Canada (2 vacances)
Women’s U23 World Championship confirmed teams (12 vacances)
Hosts: Turkey
AVC: 2 vacances TBC (AVC Women's U23 Championship, May 1-9, 2015, Philippines)
CAVB: Egypt, Tunisia (2 vacances)
CEV: TBC (2 vacances)
CSV: Brazil, Colombia (2 vacances)
NORCECA: Dominican Republic, Cuba (2 vacances)
Men’s U23 World Championship confirmed teams (12 vacances)
Hosts: United Arab Emirates
AVC: 2 vacances TBC (AVC Men's U23 Championship, May 12-20, 2015, Iran)
CAVB: Egypt, Tunisia
CEV: TBC (2 vacances)
CSV: Brazil, Argentina (2 vacances)
NORCECA: TBC (2 vacances)
By: Editor
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