Hiroshima, Japan, June 27rd 2008 – The FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) decided at its World Congress held on June 16 -17, 2008 that the new MIKASA MVA200 volleyballs with unique cover materials will be used as the official game balls at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The 24 qualified teams (12 Men and 12 Women teams) are already practicing with this revolutionary new volleyball.

Mikasa Corporation developed the new volleyball for longer rallies and more accurate player controlled games.

The characteristics of the new MIKASA MVA200 volleyballs are summarized in the following four points:

1. The conventional 18 panel design was changed to an innovative 8 panel design, imaging “petal” arrangements. The conventional blue, white and yellow three color model was changed to a blue and yellow two color model for better visibility by increasing the brightness of each color.
2. The new “Clarino^®” cover material features “two layer cushion construction” consisting of a foamed polyurethane outer layer and a non-woven inner layer made of spongy micro-fiber for enhanced softness.
3. The adopted "double-embossing process" gives the player dramatic and improved ball control by decreasing the surface slipperiness caused by the players' sweat. Fine dimples have been added to the cover material in two individual processes with special surface coating for additional ball control.
4. The new MVA200 volleyballs have a more stable flight path compared to the current official FIVB MVP200 volleyballs. This is due to the fact that the double-embossing process lessens the air disturbance around the ball for a truer flight trajectory

This is the first design change in 10 years since the FIVB adopted the current tri-color volleyballs in 1998 in order to enhance the ball’s visibility.

Since the 1964Tokyo Olympic Games, MIKASA volleyballs have been used as the official Olympic volleyballs for eight out of ten (all Olympics since the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games) Olympic Games and will be used once again in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

For more information please visit www.mikasasports.com

Mikasa Sports USA is a manufacturer and distributor of inflatable balls.
Mikasa Sports USA has been providing high level athletic balls and equipment to North America since 1972.