Olympic Volleyball set to get under way with new format

Volleyball will look different for the first time in decades at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the 12 teams competing will now be split into three pools of four teams instead of two pools of six. The change was made to give players more time between games to save up for the long run in the tournament, as the number of pool play matches for each team has been cut from five to three. Eight teams will still advance to the knockout phase of the tournament: the two top teams in each pool along with the two best third-place teams.  

Volleyball athletes to watch on Team USA 

Jordan Larson is back for her fourth Olympics, reversing her decision to retire after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Larson could become just the third woman ever to win four Olympic medals, joining Inna Ryskal (URS) and Ana Ibis Fernandez (CUB). The University of Nebraska alumni will be looking to lead the Americans to back-to-back gold medals, which would make them the first repeat champions in Women's Volleyball since Brazil did the double in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

On the men's side, 37-year-old Matt Anderson leads a veteran American squad--9 of the 12 squad members are returning Olympians--looking to bounce back from a rough go in Tokyo. The men got bounced in pool play for the first time since Sydney 2000, and will be hoping to return to the podium. If the U.S. takes home an unexpected gold, they would become the first nation with four gold medals in men's volleyball. 

When to watch volleyball during the 2024 Paris Olympics

Men and women will each compete in volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Matches start on Day 1, Saturday, July 27, and will continue throughout the entire duration of the Games. The final medal matches are expected to be played between Friday, August 9 and Sunday, August 11.

Venue

South Paris Arena #1, found in the Paris Expo complex, will serve as the home of Olympic volleyball in 2024. Originally built in 1923 for the Paris Trade Fair, structures around the complex have been renovated over the years to modernize the facilities for the Olympic Games and the future. The Olympic handball, weightlifting and table tennis will also compete inside buildings around the Paris Expo site.