Analysis of the Use of Video Challenge Systems in Volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
Keywords:
VCS, Challenge success, Match outcomes, Olympic volleyball, Sports technologyAbstract
Objective: The use of video-assisted officiating technologies in sports competitions has created a significant transformation in referees’ decision-making processes in recent years. In particular, the Video Challenge System (VCS) in volleyball has become an important element that supports referees’ decisions and may influence teams’ strategic approaches in high-level events. In this context, the study aimed to provide a descriptive examination of data related to the use of the Video Challenge System in volleyball matches played at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and to evaluate its implementation processes.
Methods and Materials: A total of 97 challenges from 25 matches were analyzed. The analysis examined the number of challenges, their approval or rejection, and their distribution by match stage, match outcome, and country, using descriptive statistics and independent t-tests conducted in an exploratory manner.
Results: The results showed that 28.87% of all challenges were upheld, while 71.13% were rejected. Winning teams submitted fewer challenges but demonstrated higher success rates in addressing them. Descriptive differences were observed across competition stages, with higher approval rates recorded in the semifinal and bronze medal matches. Variations were also observed among countries in terms of challenge frequency and outcomes. Referees rarely initiated VCS reviews, and such instances occurred infrequently across matches.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings suggest that VCS use may support referee decision-making processes and may be associated with perceived fairness, while patterns of use appear to vary according to team characteristics, competition stage, and national context. These results should be interpreted as descriptive and exploratory in nature.
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