The event is one of the five FIVB continental Olympic qualification tournaments where the winner will claim one of 12 vacancies at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Olympic Games qualified teams to date are:
Women
Great Britain (Host Nation)
Italy (World Cup winner)
USA (World Cup runner up)
China (World Cup bronze medallist)
Algeria (CAVB Olympic Qualification Tournament winner)
Men
Great Britain (Host Nation)
Russia (World Cup winner)
Poland (World Cup runner up)
Brazil (World Cup bronze medallist)
Tunisia (CAVB Olympic Qualification Tournament winner)
“Mexico and especially the state of Baja California have become a very important destination not only in matters of tourism, but also in the sport at the national, continental, intercontinental and international level,” Mr Marte Hoffiz said. “Baja California hosted the first women’s and men’s Pan American Cups, and now the eyes of the world will be focused again in Mexico“.
“Two of the best continental events have started in this region thanks to the support of NORCECA,” Local Organising Committee CEO Saul Castro Verdugo pointed out.
During the press conference, the national teams of Mexico and the Dominican Republic were presented, along with players and staff from the Cuban Under-20 team, who are holding a training camp in Tijuana.
Sunday will see the opening ceremony and start of the competition, which will end on May 5. The quarterfinals are scheduled for May 2, the semifinals on May 4 and the final on May 5.
Remaining Olympic Qualification events
NORCECA Women April 27-May 6, 2012 NORCECA COQT Tijuana, Mexico
CEV Women May 1-6, 2012 CEV COQT Ankara, Turkey
NORCECA Men May 7-12, 2012 NORCECA COQT USA
CEV Men May 8-13, 2012 CEV COQT Sofia, Bulgaria
CSV Women May 8-14, 2012 CSV COQT São Carlos, Brazil
CSV Men May 11-13, 2012 CSV COQT Almirante Brown, Argentina
AVC/FIVB Women May 19-27, 2012 WOQT / AVC COQT* Tokyo, Japan
AVC/FIVB Men June 1-10, 2012 WOQT / AVC COQT* Tokyo, Japan
FIVB Men June 8-10, 2012 WOQT Berlin, Germany
FIVB Men June 8-10, 2012 WOQT Rome, Italy
COQT = Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament / WOQT = World Olympic Qualification Tournament* Jointly with the World Olympic Qualification Tournaments organised in Japan