Nevobo and World ParaVolley have signed a Letter of Intent for the organization of the final Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Qualification Tournament on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. The tournament will take place in the first quarter of 2028 in Arnhem.

According to Jürgen Schrapp, President of World ParaVolley (WPV), the organization of the tournament for both men and women is in good hands with Nevobo. Partly for that reason, the Dutch bid was assessed as the strongest.

“The Netherlands has a good reputation when it comes to organizing international volleyball tournaments. For ParaVolley worldwide, this qualification event in 2028 is the most important stop on the road to Los Angeles 2028.”

Recognition of the Development of the Sport

Michel Everaert, Managing Director of Sport at Nevobo, is pleased that the choice has fallen on the Netherlands.

“The Netherlands has a rich history in sitting volleyball and was for many years one of the leading nations on the international stage. In addition, the Netherlands has played an important role in the worldwide development of the sport. In recent years, Nevobo has invested significantly in the further growth of sitting volleyball and in the successful integration of this Paralympic discipline within the national volleyball federation. Being entrusted with the organization of the final Paralympic Qualification Tournament in the Netherlands is, in my view, a wonderful recognition of that development. I am fully confident that together we will deliver an outstanding event.”

Qualification Criteria

In principle, eight teams per gender will participate in the final qualification tournament. These places will be taken by the highest-ranked countries on the world ranking that have not yet qualified for the Paralympic Games through another route.

If the Netherlands is not among the highest-ranked countries or has not already qualified through another route, it will still be allowed to participate in the final qualification tournament as the host nation.

Eight Countries in Los Angeles

At the tournament itself, only one Paralympic qualification place per gender will be available. In total, eight national teams per gender will compete at the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

At the recently held World Championships in China, Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina (men), and Brazil and China (women), qualified for the Paralympic Games. Both teams of the United States also secured their place in LA.

Four qualification places will be allocated at the continental championships in 2027, while the eighth and final qualification place will be decided in 2028 at the tournament in the Netherlands.

The Dutch sitting volleyball team last participated in the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016, where the women’s team finished in sixth place. Earlier, the Dutch women won silver in Athens (2004) and bronze in Beijing (2008). The Dutch men’s team last competed at the Paralympic Games in Sydney 2000.