Wikiwand AI

1956 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship

International volleyball tournament From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1956 FIVB Women's World Championship was the second edition of the tournament, contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport's global governing body. It was held from 30 August to 12 September 1956 in France, with all matches played at three venues in Paris.[1] A record seventeen teams took part — more than double the eight that had contested the inaugural edition in 1952 — twelve of them appearing at a Women's World Championship for the first time. The women's tournament was staged concurrently with the men's World Championship in the same city, making Paris the centre of world volleyball for a fortnight.

Host countryFrance
CityParis
Dates30 August – 12 September
Teams17
Quick facts Championnat du monde féminin France 1956, Tournament details ...
1956 FIVB Women's World Championship
Championnat du monde féminin
France 1956
Official poster
Tournament details
Host countryFrance
CityParis
Dates30 August – 12 September
Teams17
Venues3 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Soviet Union (2nd title)
Runners-up Romania
Third place Poland
Fourth place Czechoslovakia
← 1952
1960 →
Close

The Soviet Union successfully defended the title they had won on home soil four years earlier, going through the tournament undefeated to claim their second world crown. The championship was effectively settled on 6 September at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, where the Soviets recovered from two sets down to defeat Romania 3–2 in the decisive match of the final round. Romania, for whom it was the only defeat of the tournament, took the silver medal, while Poland finished third ahead of Czechoslovakia.

The Paris championship was the first edition held outside the Soviet Union and the first to feature teams from beyond Europe on any significant scale, with entries from Asia and the Americas; the FIVB later described it as "the first truly globe-spanning World Championship".[2] Staged at a time when volleyball had yet to appear at the Olympic Games, the size and success of the 1956 tournament formed part of the sport's case for Olympic inclusion, which was approved by the International Olympic Committee the following year for the 1964 Tokyo Games.[2]

Background

The FIVB had been founded in Paris in 1947, and the first Women's World Championship was organised five years later, in August 1952 in Moscow. Eight teams — seven from Europe and India — contested that inaugural event in a single round-robin, and the host Soviet Union won all seven of its matches to take the title ahead of Poland.[1]

For the second edition the tournament returned to the federation's birthplace. Paris organised the women's championship alongside the third men's World Championship, in which 24 men's teams from four continents competed and which was won by Czechoslovakia.[2] The women's field grew from eight to seventeen teams: alongside the established Eastern European powers — the Soviet Union, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia — and hosts France, the entry list included China, North Korea and Israel from Asia, Brazil and the United States from the Americas, and, reflecting the political reality of the divided continent, separate teams from East and West Germany.

The Soviet squad arrived as clear favourites. It was captained by Aleksandra Chudina, one of the outstanding all-round athletes of her era: a three-time Olympic medallist in athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics (silver in the long jump and javelin throw, bronze in the high jump) and a former world record holder in the high jump, she was regarded as perhaps the best volleyball player in the Soviet team.[3] The side was coached by Alexey Yakushev.

Teams

Seventeen national teams entered the tournament. Twelve of them were making their Women's World Championship debuts; the only nations with previous experience of the event were Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, hosts France and the reigning champions, the Soviet Union.

Squads

Source:[4]

Venues

All matches were played in Paris at three indoor arenas. The largest was the Palais des Sports (capacity 4,600), while the showpiece matches of the final round — including the championship-deciding meeting between the Soviet Union and Romania — were staged at the 4,016-seat Stade Pierre de Coubertin. The smallest of the three grounds was the Salle Japy (capacity 1,500).

More information Paris ...
Paris (France)
 Paris
Stade Pierre de Coubertin Salle Japy Palais des Sports
Capacity: 4,016 Capacity: 1,500 Capacity: 4,600
Close

Format

The tournament was played in two different stages (first and final rounds). In the First round, the 17 participants were divided in five groups (two groups of four teams and three groups of three teams). A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, all teams progressed to the next round.

In the Final round, two groups were created (1st-10th and 11th-17th), teams were allocated to a group according to their First round group position (best two teams of each group going to 1st-10th and the remaining teams to 11th-17th). A single round-robin format was played within each group with matches already played between teams in the First round also counted in this round.[1]

Under this format every team in the top group played nine matches in eleven days, and eighty matches were contested across the tournament as a whole.

Pools composition

More information Pool A, Pool B ...
Pool APool BPool CPool DPool E
 Israel Austria Belgium Bulgaria Brazil
 Luxembourg China Czechoslovakia East Germany North Korea
 Soviet Union Poland Netherlands France Romania
 United States West Germany
Close

Results

First round

The first round produced few surprises. In Pool A the Soviet Union won all three of its matches in straight sets, conceding just 25 points in total, with the United States — also unbeaten against the group's weaker sides — taking second place. Pool B provided the most competitive match of the opening stage, Poland beating China 3–1 after the first two sets were shared; both teams advanced. Czechoslovakia and the Netherlands came through Pool C without dropping a set against Belgium and each other until their own meeting, which the Czechoslovaks won 3–0, while in Pool D Bulgaria topped the group ahead of East Germany and hosts France were consigned to the placement round. In Pool E, Romania defeated first North Korea and had earlier beaten Brazil, who recovered from an opening 3–1 defeat by the Koreans to claim third place in the group.[1]

Pool A

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Soviet Union 3 3 0 6 9 0 MAX 135 25 5.400 Final places
2  United States 3 2 1 5 6 3 2.000 107 54 1.981
3  Israel 3 1 2 4 3 6 0.500 56 108 0.519 11th–17th places
4  Luxembourg 3 0 3 3 0 9 0.000 24 135 0.178
Close
Source: [citation needed]
More information Date, Score ...
Date Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total
30 Aug Soviet Union  3–0  Luxembourg 15–1 15–2 15–1     45–4
30 Aug United States  3–0  Israel 15–1 15–4 15–2     45–7
31 Aug Israel  3–0  Luxembourg 15–7 15–5 15–6     45–18
31 Aug Soviet Union  3–0  United States 15–7 15–4 15–6     45–17
1 Sep Soviet Union  3–0  Israel 15–2 15–2 15–0     45–4
1 Sep United States  3–0  Luxembourg 15–0 15–1 15–1     45–2
Close

Pool B

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Poland 3 3 0 6 9 1 9.000 151 53 2.849 Final places
2  China 3 2 1 5 7 3 2.333 133 72 1.847
3  Austria 3 1 2 4 3 6 0.500 59 107 0.551 11th–17th places
4  West Germany 3 0 3 3 0 9 0.000 24 135 0.178
Close
Source: [citation needed]
More information Date, Score ...
Date Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total
30 Aug Poland  3–0  West Germany 15–0 15–0 15–1     45–1
30 Aug China  3–0  Austria 15–1 15–2 15–2     45–5
31 Aug Austria  3–0  West Germany 15–10 15–7 15–0     45–17
31 Aug Poland  3–1  China 17–15 14–16 15–6 15–6   61–43
1 Sep China  3–0  West Germany 15–1 15–3 15–2     45–6
1 Sep Poland  3–0  Austria 15–5 15–3 15–1     45–9
Close

Pool C

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Czechoslovakia 2 2 0 4 6 0 MAX 90 13 6.923 Final places
2  Netherlands 2 1 1 3 3 3 1.000 52 67 0.776
3  Belgium 2 0 2 2 0 6 0.000 28 90 0.311 11th–17th places
Close
Source: [citation needed]
More information Date, Score ...
Date Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total
30 Aug Czechoslovakia  3–0  Belgium 15–1 15–1 15–4     45–6
31 Aug Netherlands  3–0  Belgium 15–10 15–7 15–5     45–22
1 Sep Czechoslovakia  3–0  Netherlands 15–3 15–4 15–0     45–7
Close

Pool D

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Bulgaria 2 2 0 4 6 1 6.000 104 59 1.763 Final places
2  East Germany 2 1 1 3 3 3 1.000 66 81 0.815
3  France 2 0 2 2 1 6 0.167 74 104 0.712 11th–17th places
Close
Source: [citation needed]
More information Date, Score ...
Date Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total
30 Aug East Germany  3–0  France 15–13 15–11 15–12     45–36
31 Aug Bulgaria  3–1  France 15–3 15–8 14–16 15–11   59–38
1 Sep Bulgaria  3–0  East Germany 15–7 15–7 15–7     45–21
Close

Pool E

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR Qualification
1  Romania 2 2 0 4 6 0 MAX 92 54 1.704 Final places
2  North Korea 2 1 1 3 3 4 0.750 88 78 1.128
3  Brazil 2 0 2 2 1 6 0.167 55 103 0.534 11th–17th places
Close
Source: [citation needed]
More information Date, Score ...
Date Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total
30 Aug North Korea  3–1  Brazil 15–6 11–15 15–3 15–9   56–33
31 Aug Romania  3–0  Brazil 17–15 15–4 15–3     47–22
1 Sep Romania  3–0  North Korea 15–11 15–11 15–10     45–32
Close

Final round

The results and the points of the matches between the same teams that were already played during the first round are taken into account for the final round.

In the group for the 11th–17th places, Brazil — beaten twice in the first round — found their level and won all six of their placement matches, dropping only a single set, to the hosts, en route to eleventh place. France won their other five matches to finish twelfth, Belgium took thirteenth place and Luxembourg ended the tournament winless in seventeenth.

The ten-team group for the final places quickly developed into a contest between the Soviet Union and Romania. The decisive encounter came on 6 September: Romania took the first two sets 15–12 and 15–11 and stood one set from a victory that would have put them in control of the title race, but the defending champions responded by taking the next three sets 15–6, 15–12 and 15–8 to complete a 3–2 comeback. It proved to be the only defeat Romania suffered in Paris; they recovered to win five-set matches against Bulgaria, Poland and Czechoslovakia on three consecutive days (8–10 September) and closed the tournament with an 8–1 record and the silver medal, their best result at a World Championship.

The bronze medal was decided by fine margins. Poland and Czechoslovakia both finished with records of six wins and three defeats, and Poland's 3–2 victory in their head-to-head meeting on 3 September — a match in which the two sides scored exactly 63 points each, Poland prevailing 16–14 in the fifth set — proved decisive. Bulgaria took fifth place, ahead of debutants China in sixth and North Korea in seventh; China were the only side besides Romania to beat the United States in five sets, and the sixth-place finish began a long association between the Chinese team and the heights of the world game. East Germany placed eighth, the United States ninth and the Netherlands, winless in nine final-round matches, tenth. The Soviet Union completed their programme on 12 September with a 3–0 win over Czechoslovakia to seal a perfect record of nine victories in the final round; only Romania and Poland (in a 3–1 defeat on 11 September) managed to take a set from the champions all tournament.[1]

11th–17th places

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR
11  Brazil 6 6 0 12 18 1 18.000 286 100 2.860
12  France 6 5 1 11 16 3 5.333 275 129 2.132
13  Belgium 6 4 2 10 12 7 1.714 233 206 1.131
14  Israel 6 3 3 9 10 10 1.000 215 216 0.995
15  Austria 6 2 4 8 7 12 0.583 183 227 0.806
16  West Germany 6 1 5 7 3 16 0.188 132 274 0.482
17  Luxembourg 6 0 6 6 1 18 0.056 108 280 0.386
Close
Source: [citation needed]
More information Date, Score ...
Date Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total
2 Sep Belgium  3–1  Israel 15–9 17–15 5–15 15–11   52–50
2 Sep France  3–0  Luxembourg 15–1 15–0 15–1     45–2
2 Sep Brazil  3–0  West Germany 15–1 15–0 15–4     45–5
3 Sep France  3–0  Austria 15–6 15–6 15–4     45–16
3 Sep Belgium  3–0  West Germany 15–10 15–2 15–8     45–20
3 Sep Brazil  3–0  Luxembourg 15–1 15–1 15–0     45–2
5 Sep Israel  3–0  West Germany 15–11 15–7 15–3     45–21
5 Sep Belgium  3–0  Luxembourg 15–0 15–8 15–5     45–13
5 Sep Brazil  3–0  Austria 15–0 15–6 15–3     45–9
6 Sep Belgium  3–0  Austria 15–6 15–13 16–14     46–33
6 Sep Brazil  3–1  France 15–13 17–15 14–16 15–6   61–50
8 Sep France  3–0  Belgium 15–7 15–8 15–6     45–21
8 Sep West Germany  3–1  Luxembourg 15–5 15–13 7–15 18–16   55–49
8 Sep Israel  3–1  Austria 5–15 15–3 15–8 15–9   50–35
9 Sep France  3–0  Israel 15–2 15–11 15–2     45–15
9 Sep Brazil  3–0  Belgium 15–5 15–10 15–9     45–24
10 Sep Austria  3–0  Luxembourg 15–3 15–9 15–12     45–24
10 Sep Brazil  3–0  Israel 15–5 15–3 15–2     45–10
10 Sep France  3–0  West Germany 15–4 15–5 15–5     45–14
Close

Final places

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L Pts SW SL SR SPW SPL SPR
1  Soviet Union 9 9 0 18 27 2 13.500 439 218 2.014
2  Romania 9 8 1 17 26 11 2.364 510 382 1.335
3  Poland 9 6 3 15 22 13 1.692 461 386 1.194
4  Czechoslovakia 9 6 3 15 22 10 2.200 423 285 1.484
5  Bulgaria 9 5 4 14 18 14 1.286 390 359 1.086
6  China 9 3 6 12 14 21 0.667 366 446 0.821
7  North Korea 9 3 6 12 10 23 0.435 368 434 0.848
8  East Germany 9 3 6 12 13 21 0.619 337 451 0.747
9  United States 9 2 7 11 11 23 0.478 329 448 0.734
10  Netherlands 9 0 9 9 3 27 0.111 222 436 0.509
Close
Source: [citation needed]
More information Date, Score ...
Date Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total
2 Sep United States  3–0  Netherlands 15–3 15–6 15–9     45–18
2 Sep Czechoslovakia  3–1  Bulgaria 15–3 7–15 15–12 15–12   52–42
2 Sep East Germany  3–1  Poland 15–12 15–12 13–15 16–14   59–53
2 Sep Soviet Union  3–0  China 15–8 15–0 15–9     45–17
3 Sep Poland  3–2  Czechoslovakia 10–15 15–6 15–13 7–15 16–14 63–63
3 Sep Romania  3–0  East Germany 15–6 16–14 15–7     46–27
3 Sep North Korea  3–1  Netherlands 15–5 15–12 9–15 15–8   54–40
3 Sep Bulgaria  3–1  China 8–15 15–5 15–5 15–12   53–37
5 Sep Soviet Union  3–0  North Korea 15–6 15–6 17–15     47–27
5 Sep Bulgaria  3–1  United States 15–3 15–17 15–5 15–5   60–30
5 Sep Czechoslovakia  3–0  East Germany 15–5 15–7 15–5     45–17
5 Sep Romania  3–0  Netherlands 15–6 15–10 15–5     45–21
6 Sep Poland  3–0  United States 15–4 15–10 15–6     45–20
6 Sep East Germany  3–1  Netherlands 15–9 15–9 10–15 15–6   55–39
6 Sep Soviet Union  3–2  Romania 12–15 11–15 15–6 15–12 15–8 68–56
6 Sep Bulgaria  3–0  North Korea 15–9 15–13 15–9     45–31
6 Sep Czechoslovakia  3–0  China 15–0 15–2 15–4     45–6
8 Sep Poland  3–1  North Korea 14–16 15–8 15–10 15–4   59–38
8 Sep Soviet Union  3–0  Netherlands 15–2 15–4 15–3     45–9
8 Sep Czechoslovakia  3–0  United States 15–5 15–10 15–3     45–18
8 Sep Romania  3–2  Bulgaria 10–15 13–15 15–9 15–9 15–8 68–56
8 Sep China  3–2  East Germany 15–1 4–15 14–16 15–9 15–10 63–51
9 Sep Czechoslovakia  3–0  North Korea 15–3 15–13 15–5     45–21
9 Sep Soviet Union  3–0  East Germany 15–1 15–3 15–1     45–5
9 Sep United States  3–2  China 10–15 10–15 15–12 15–8 15–9 65–59
9 Sep Bulgaria  3–0  Netherlands 15–11 15–7 15–12     45–30
9 Sep Romania  3–2  Poland 15–11 12–15 15–4 13–15 16–14 71–59
10 Sep Romania  3–2  Czechoslovakia 10–15 11–15 15–6 15–8 15–13 66–57
10 Sep China  3–0  North Korea 16–14 15–10 15–12     46–36
10 Sep Soviet Union  3–0  Bulgaria 15–13 15–7 15–10     45–30
10 Sep East Germany  3–1  United States 15–13 16–14 7–15 15–10   53–52
10 Sep Poland  3–0  Netherlands 15–9 15–3 15–12     45–24
11 Sep North Korea  3–2  United States 15–13 15–3 7–15 14–16 15–11 66–58
11 Sep Romania  3–1  China 15–8 15–8 11–15 15–7   56–38
11 Sep Soviet Union  3–1  Poland 15–4 9–15 15–6 15–6   54–31
12 Sep Poland  3–0  Bulgaria 15–3 15–9 15–2     45–14
12 Sep Romania  3–1  United States 12–15 15–2 15–4 15–3   57–24
12 Sep North Korea  3–2  East Germany 15–5 5–15 13–15 15–8 15–6 63–49
12 Sep China  3–1  Netherlands 15–3 15–11 12–15 15–5   57–34
12 Sep Soviet Union  3–0  Czechoslovakia 15–13 15–8 15–5     45–26
Close

Final standing

More information Rank, Team ...
Close

Aftermath

The Soviet Union retained the title at the next championship in Brazil in 1960, completing a hat-trick of world crowns before their run of dominance was ended by the rise of Japan, champions in 1962.[2] Captain Aleksandra Chudina was part of all three Soviet title-winning teams (1952, 1956 and 1960), making her one of the most decorated players of the era in addition to her achievements in track and field athletics.[3]

The Paris tournament also proved significant off the court. With 17 women's teams and 24 men's teams drawn from four continents, the 1956 championships demonstrated the sport's international breadth shortly after the FIVB's first decade, and the following year — to the day, almost, of the anniversary of the tournament — the IOC voted at its session in Sofia to add volleyball to the Olympic programme for Tokyo 1964.[2] Several of the debutant nations of 1956 went on to shape the future of the women's game: China, sixth in Paris, would win back-to-back world titles in 1982 and 1986, while Brazil, eleventh on their first appearance, later became perennial contenders for the title.

References

External links

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks