The 2008 Beijing Olympics volleyball competitions introduced a redesigned Mikasa ball with a new moulding, marking a technical equipment change for the sport.
Key Facts
- Competition dates
- 9–24 August 2008
- Beach volleyball dates
- 9–22 August 2008
- Indoor venues
- Capital Indoor Stadium; Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium
- Beach volleyball venue
- Beach Volleyball Ground, Chaoyang Park
- New equipment introduced
- Redesigned Mikasa ball replacing MVP200
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing provided the occasion for hosting both indoor and beach volleyball competitions, requiring multiple dedicated venues across the city and continuing the Olympic tradition of featuring both disciplines since beach volleyball's Olympic debut in 1996.
Volleyball events, encompassing both indoor and beach formats, were held in Beijing from 9 to 24 August 2008. Indoor matches took place at Capital Indoor Stadium and Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium, while beach volleyball was contested at the Beach Volleyball Ground in Chaoyang Park from 9 to 22 August.
The competitions introduced a newly designed Mikasa volleyball featuring a revised moulding that made the ball softer than its predecessor, the MVP200, representing a tangible equipment evolution that would influence the sport's play and ball manufacturing standards going forward.