Location of men's volleyball World League switches to Hangzhou

Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, June 3) -- The FIVB has agreed to a proposal from the China Volleyball Association (CVA) to change the host city for the 2008 World League from Chengdu to Hangzhou in the light of the recent earthquake in Sichuan Province.

The original host city of the 2008 FIVB World League, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, has been seriously affected by the May 12 earthquake. As such, the FIVB has agreed to switch the location of this year's world men's volleyball tournament to Zhejiang Provincial Huanglong Gymnasium in Hangzhou and will work together with the CVA to ensure top standards for teams, officials and fans, according to the FIVB website.

China will host Japan, Poland and Egypt in Pool D on the first three weekends. The host team's first opponent will be Japan on June 14 and June 15. Following the games against Poland and Egypt on home court, the Chinese will travel to Poland, Egypt and Japan to compete in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, respectively.

The World League, started in 1990, is the flagship annual event for men's volleyball. Ninety-six matches will be held over six weeks this year in 41 cities around the world. In 2007, China placed ninth in the tournament.

The home and away round robin tournaments begin June 13-15 and end July 18-20. In the end, six teams will compete in the final round in Rio de Janeiro July 23-27.

The 16 teams in the World League will compete in four pools. Brazil, France, Serbia, Venezuela are in Pool A; Russia, Cuba, Republic of Korea, Italy in Pool B; USA, Bulgaria, Spain, Finland in Pool C; and Poland, Japan, China, Egypt in Pool D.