Japan to Host Volleyball World Cup

Bern, May 24. -The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced Tuesday that the World Volleyball Cup will be held Nov. 4-Dec. 4 in Japan. The cup is the first qualifying event for the 2012 Olympics in London, and received the green light to go ahead after a series of meetings between the FIVB and the Japanse Volleyball Association.

Despite the prevailing nuclear crisis in Japan, the FIVB will continue to support the Japanese association and the Japanese people to overcome the difficulties stemming from the devastating March earthquake and tsunami, according to FIVB president Jizhong Wei.

The World Cup provides three slots for the Olympics, and will include the five continental champions and four runners-up with the best ranking in the FIVB, plus Japan as host country and two guest teams.

Hiroshima, Nagano, Sapporo, Okayama and Tokyo will host the women's tournament Nov. 4-18, while the men's teams will play in Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Tokyo Nov. 20-Dec. 4. (Prensa Latina)