Germany qualified for the Olympic women's volleyball tournament after finishing first in the six-day European qualifiers which closed in Bremen, northern Germany, on Sunday.

Even a 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 20-25, 18-25) loss to Italy could not stop the hosts from advancing to the Sydney Games. The Germans won all their four other matches, against Croatia, the Netherlands, Ukraine and Romania.

Italy finished runners-up, losing to Germany by aggregated set difference.

Brazil's men's volleyball team fought back from one set down to defeat Argentina 3-2 to win the first place in the Continental Pre-Olympic Volleyball Tournament in Sao Paulo on Sunday and won a berth in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In a game that lasted more than two hours, the Brazilians downed the Argentines 21-25, 32-30, 25-22, 33-35 and 15-13. Argentina finished second.

Venezuela beat Colombia 25-14, 25-17 and 25-18 for the third place.

Another team qualifying for Olympic men's volleyball tournament is from Yugoslavia.