Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 7, 2016 - Pool B competition in the men’s volleyball tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is set to start on Sunday with a match between Poland and Egypt. Also in Pool B are the national teams of Argentina, Cuba, Iran and Russia.
Egypt made it to Rio 2016 as the winner of the CAVB African Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament. Poland had to wait longer to secure their spot at the Games and did so by winning the FIVB Volleyball World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo about two months ago.
For Poland this will be the ninth participation in men’s Olympic volleyball. The European standout won the title at Montreal 1976, their only medal so far. At the last three editions, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012, they finished fifth.
Egypt played at three editions of the Olympic Games. The 10th place at Los Angeles 1984 was their best finish. The African side ended up 11th at Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008.
Poland and Egypt met face to face at the FIVB Volleyball World Cup 2015 in Japan. On September 17, in Toyama, the Poles mastered a 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-18) victory over their North African opponents.