Pools announced for Rio 2016 sitting volleyball competition

The pool stages in the men’s and women’s competitions will see repeat fixtures from the London 2012 gold medal matches. 06 May 2016

The Pools for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games sitting volleyball competition were announced on Wednesday (4 May) pitting the finalists from both the men’s and women’s competitions at London 2012 together in the opening stages.

To learn more about sitting volleyball, please click here.

In the men’s competition Paralympic, world and European champions Bosnia and Herzegovina are in Pool B alongside five-time Paralympic gold medallists Iran, the side currently ranked as the world’s No.1. The two rivals have contested the last four Paralympic finals dating back to Sydney 2000 and it was the European side that came out on top last time round at London 2012. The two powerhouses of the sport are joined in Pool B by Russia and China.

World silver medallists and hosts Brazil are currently second in the world rankings and they headline Pool A. In the opening matches, the Parapan American Games gold medallists will face Egypt, Germany and the USA.

The highlight of the opening round in the women’s competition will be the Pool B contest between two huge rivals – China and the USA. The two sides have played out the gold medal match at the last two Paralympic Games with world champions China coming out on top on both occasions. In Pool B they will also face Iran and Rwanda, who made history last year by becoming the first African women’s side to qualify for a Paralympic Games.

Hosts and world No.4 side Brazil are in Pool A together with Ukraine who are one place above them in the current world rankings. Parapan American Games bronze medallists Canada and Russia make-up the rest of the Pool.

Sitting volleyball matches at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be held in the Riocentro Pavilion 6 between 9 and 18 September. The venue is located in the Barra cluster, containing the largest concentration of Games venues.

Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs)

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.