Each of the five continental volleyball confederations has at least one affiliated national federation involved in the Olympic Games (Montgomery p 20).

The U.S.S.R. won men's gold in both 1964 and 1968. After taking bronze in 1964 and silver in 1968, Japan finally won the gold for men's volleyball in 1972. Women's gold went to Japan in 1964 and again in 1976. That year, the backrow attack allowed Poland to win the men's competition over the Soviets. With the U.S.S.R. boycotting the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the U.S. was able to sweep Brazil in the finals for the men's gold medal and Italy won its first medal, foreshadowing a rise in prominence for their volleyball teams.

In 1985, for the first time, a Volleyball representative (FIVB President Acosta) was named for an IOC Commission - the prestigious Olympic Movement Commission. (fib+vb 2006)

At the 1988 Games, the U.S....
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