The Bulgarian volleyball team booked a place at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games by finishing third at the World Cup in Japan. This achievement marked the end of 12 years of non-participation. The last time Bulgaria took part at the Olympics was in 1996 in Atlanta, where they finished seventh, the team then missed Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

Tokyo was confirmed as a lucky location for Bulgarian volleyball as the team had also finished in third place at the world championship in December 2006. The same appeared to be true for Brazil who won the 12-team World Cup tournament and maintained their place as the world’s top volleyball power, a throne they have occupied since 2001. The Brazilians won the previous World Cup in 2003, which was held in the Japanese metropolis, the same city where they were crowned World Champions in 2006 and Grand Champions Cup winners 2005. The reigning Olympic and World Champions were the second team to win back-to-back World Cups after the former Soviet Union (1977 and 1981). Russia will join Brazil and Bulgaria in the Beijing Olympics after beating the US 3:2 in the World Cup second place decider.

Bulgaria entered the World Cup on a wild card place and finished with nine wins and two losses. The key success in the final stage of the competition was a five-set victory against Russia. After that Stoev’s players had to beat Japan and Argentina, which they did. Captain Plamen Konstantinov said: “I am very happy about this tournament because finally we have reached the Olympics. This was the most important tournament for us this year and maybe of the past four years because for all those years we were preparing to reach the Olympics. So this is a big day for Bulgarian volleyball. I hope we will make it a great Olympic games.”

This is the best volleyball team Bulgaria ever had, said Martin Stoev. The coach, who turned 36 on Monday, celebrated his birthday on the aircraft coming back from the Japanese capital. On the team’s arrival in Sofia he was given a birthday cake with his picture on it. The team was met at the airport by the chairman of the Agency of Youth and Sport Vessela Lecheva, the head of the National Sport’s Academy Professor Lachezar Dimitrov and the General Secretary of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) Belcho Goranov.

On December 12 a new field in the National Sport’s Academy will be opened and the players were assured that they could use it anytime if they like. The players are also scheduled to receive golden pins from the BOC around Christmas.

About 30 fans, who came to congratulate the players on their arrival, were less pleased. They weren’t allowed inside and had to wait for autographs in the rain.

“We played 11 games in 14 days. The tournament was very difficult, we didn’t have any time for rest. In the days we did not play we had to travel,” said Stoev.

“I have been to the Olympics as a player but I don’t know what it will feel like as a coach. There is no need to compare the current team with the one from the games in Atlanta in 1996. Now we are much better. I said to the guys before our last game that if they qualified for the Olympics, they would get into the history books as the best Bulgarian volleyball team ever. It’s still too early to talk about our chances in Beijing but I hope the guys stay healthy and we prepare well. What is also important is what type of group we play in.

“After two third places in a year the team will get better. Most of the guys are young, with the exception of a couple of experienced players, so they will be at their best in the period between the Olympics in Beijing and London.”

Then in regard to the rumours that he might quit after the Olympics in Beijing, the coach said: “My contract expires after the games but now is not the right moment to talk about that. I can only confirm the games are my initial focus.”