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LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 30, 2021 - The
final schedule for the 2021 FIVB Volleyball
Nations League has been confirmed ahead of the
third edition of the competition which begins on
May 25 at Italy's Adriatic resort of Rimini with
the participation of 16 women's and 16 men's
teams.
Action begins with the women's event on May 25,
with the Netherlands facing neighbours Belgium
for the first of a total 248 matches across both
genders in a period extending over a month.
The opening round of the women's competition
also includes a rematch of the 2019 final, with
USA taking on Brazil on May 27. The North
American side had prevailed over the South
Americans in an epic comeback from two sets down
two years ago at Nanjing to claim their second
VNL title in as many editions of the
competition.
The men's competition in Rimini starts on May 28
with France facing Bulgaria in the opening
match.
Two-time VNL men's champions Russia begin their
campaign against the Netherlands, and will take
on USA on June 3 in a rematch of the 2019 final
when they beat their American opponents in four
sets in Chicago.
The competition format is a single round robin
pool with each of the 16 teams facing every
other ahead of semifinals between the top four
of the standings. The semifinal winners will
clash for the title, with the losers playing out
for the bronze medal.
The women's semifinals are scheduled for June 24
with the medals matches following on June 25.
The men's competition culminates with semifinals
on June 26 and the two medals matches on June
27.
https://www.volleyball.world/vnl/2021/schedule
The 2021 VNL is the first international
gathering of this magnitude since the outbreak
of the coronavirus pandemic caused the
cancellation of events in 2020. The tournament
will be held within a secure 'bubble' with all
hygiene protocols in place to ensure the health
and well-being of all athletes, officials and
staff throughout the competition. |
