THE 2 EVENTS1 mens tournament1 womens tournamentTHE FORMATThe 12 teams are split into 2 groups of 6. The top 4 in each group advance to the knockout phase, which consists of quarter-finals, semi-finals, the bronze medal match and the final.MILESTONES1895Volleyball is invented by the American William G. Morgan.1918The number of players is fixed at 6 per team.1922The number of touches of the ball is limited to 3.April 1947The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is founded in Paris.1949The USSR wins the first mens world championships.1952The USSR also wins the first womens world championships.1964Volleyball makes its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games.2000Changes in the Olympic format: points are scored after each exchange, and the libero position is introduced.STARSAleksandr Savin (USSR)The symbol of Soviet domination in the 1980s. Gold medallist at the 1980 Games in Moscow and silver medallist at Montreal 1976. He was crowned world champion in 1978 and 1982, and also won 6 European titles.Karch Kiraly (United States)The all-rounder. Winner of two volleyball gold medals in 1984 and 1988, he added a third Olympic title by winning the first beach volleyball gold in 1996. World champion in 1986 and European Cup winner in 1992.Regla Torres (Cuba)The greatest. Triple Olympic champion in 1992, 1996 and 2000, and world champion in 1994 and 1998. After a fantastic career, she was named player of the century by the FIVB in 2001. Discount Stan Smith . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Cheap Stan Smith Free Shipping . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. http://www.wholesalestansmith.com/ . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Cheap Stan Smith China Wholesale . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Wholesale Stan Smith . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. BERLIN -- Joachim Loew is staying on as Germany coach through the 2018 World Cup in Russia.The German soccer federation said Tuesday that Loew clearly told federation president Reinhard Grindel that he will fulfill his contract, which runs until 2018.Loew wouldnt immediately give a clear commitment after Germany lost to France in the European Championship semifinals last week, but he was widely expected to stay.Grindel and Loew dispelled any doubts in a telephone conversation Tuesday.Im sticking to what I repeatedly stressed before and during the tournament: Jogi Loew is the best coach for this team, Grindel said. He has our unrestricted confidence and we are sure of being able to play successful football with him at the helm in the future, too.ddddddddddddLoew, Germanys coach since 2006, said a few days of calm and detachment had been necessary following the loss.For me its clear that, despite our disappointment, the team did not disappoint, Loew said. It was the youngest team in the tournament. I still see great potential.Germany will play a friendly against Finland in Moenchengladbach on Aug. 31 before opening its World Cup qualifying campaign against Norway in Oslo on Sept. 4. Its qualifying group also features the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and San Marino. ' ' '