Volleyball Venue: Earls Court

In 2012, Earls Court will be transformed into a spectacular Volleyball arena ready for the Games. Volleyball is a dynamic, competitive sport which will be staged at the historic Earls Court during the London 2012 Olympic Games. In 1895, William G Morgan devised a game he called ‘mintonette’, which he designed as a gentle alternative to basketball for older members of his YMCA gym. A century later, Volleyball is anything but gentle – few sports on the Olympic programme offer such fast, furious and exhilarating action. Volleyball is played by two teams of six on an 18m x 9m indoor court divided by a net (2.43m high for men, 2.24m for women). The object of the game is to land the ball in the opposition’s half of the court.

Key facts about London's Earls Court

Sport: Volleyball
Location: Earls Court is in west London, close to the Victoria and Albert, Science and Natural History Museums.
New or existing: Existing
Permanent or temporary: Permanent
Number of events: 2

About Earls Court

From exhibitions and conferences to live music, Earls Court holds hundreds of events each year attended by visitors from around the world.

It first opened its doors in 1937, at the time providing an unprecedented 40,000 square metres of exhibition space.

View the planning application
During the Games

The Volleyball competition will be held in Earls Court. 288 athletes will take part, with the action beginning on the 28 July.
After the Games

The venue will continue as one of London’s best exhibition and event spaces.