The first athletes have booked their places at the Rio 2016 Games! Three sittting volleyball teams – the Bosnia and Herzegovina men's side and the China and USA women's teams – confirmed their qualification on Friday (20 June) by winning their semi-final matches at the world championships in Elblag, Poland.

 

Iran's men claimed the fourth Rio 2016 spot up for grabs in Poland by wining the bronze medal match against Egypt on Saturday (June 21). Brazil had defeated Iran in their semi-final on Friday, but as the host nation are already guaranteed a place at the Rio Games, it went down to the battle for third place at the world championships.

 

It was the first qualifying event for the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in South America. Throughout 2014, athletes from at least 10 Olympic sports and 12 Paralympic sports will earn qualification spots for the greatest sporting event on the planet.

 

In the men's semi-finals, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the gold medal winners at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, overcame Egypt in straight sets (25-11, 25-23, 25-23), before Brazil produced a shock by beating defending world champions Iran 3-2 (25-19, 25-20, 18-25, 15-25, 15-12).

 

In the women's tournament, reigning Paralympic and world champions China were forced to work hard to beat Russia in five sets (25-12, 25-16, 16-25, 20-25, 15-11) in their semi-final. USA, the London silver medallists, assured their qualification by overcoming the Netherlands 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-13). 

 

“The competition in Rio will be really top,” said USA's Nichole Millage after the match. “All teams play from their heart and show their best and it will be really good competition. I'm excited.” 

 

In Saturday's finals, Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Brazil (25-22, 20-25, 25-7, 28-26) to become men's world champions, while China held on to the women's world title by defeating USA in a fifth-set tie-break (23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 17-15). 

 

Goalball will be the next sport in which teams confirm their qualification for the Rio 2016 Games. The top three men's and women's teams at the world championships, that will take place between 26 June and 6 July, in Espoo, Finalnd, will be on their way to Rio for the Paralympic Games.

 

See the table below for details of all the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic qualification spots that will be won in 2014: