London 2012 gold medallists Russia will take on France at the European Olympic Qualification Tournament in January ©Getty Images

London 2012 men’s volleyball gold medallists Russia have been drawn alongside recently-crowned European champions France for the European Olympic Qualification Tournament event in Berlin in January.

The two heavyweights of the sport will clash in Pool B, which also features world number seven ranked Bulgaria and Finland.

The winners of the tournament at the Max-Schmeling-Halle, which runs from January 5 to 10, will secure an all-important berth at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, while the second and third placed sides will have another chance at booking their ticket to Brazil at the World Olympic qualifier in May and June.

Reigning world champions Poland meanwhile will take on International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World League runners-up Serbia in Pool A as well as inaugural European Games gold medallists Germany and Belgium.

Italy, ranked at number four in the world, have already sealed their Rio 2016 spot by virtue of their second-place finish at the recent FIVB World Cup in Japan.

They will be joined in Rio by hosts Brazil, World Cup winners the United States and South American Olympic Qualification Tournament victors Argentina.

In the women’s competition, which will be held from January 4 to 9 at the Baskent Volleyball Hall in Ankara, Turkey, world number four Russia have been drawn in Pool B along with two-times FIVB World Cup winners Italy.

The Netherlands will take on Turkey in a repeat of the European Championships semi-final in the women's event
The Netherlands will take on Turkey in a repeat of the European Championships semi-final in the women's event ©Getty Images

Poland and 2013 European Volleyball Championships bronze medallists Belgium are the other two sides in the group.

The hosts, who claimed the European Games crown in Baku, Azerbaijan in June, will come up against The Netherlands, Germany and Croatia in Pool A.

Serbia have already guaranteed Rio 2016 qualification thanks to finishing second at the women’s FIVB World Cup behind China.

The venue in the Turkish city staged the previous women's European Olympic Qualification Tournament for London 2012, won by the host nation.



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