Beach volleyball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

The six third-place teams were ranked against each other, with ties being broken by the ratio of points won to lost.

The 16 teams that advanced to the elimination rounds played a single-elimination tournament with a bronze medal match between the semifinal losers.

The final Olympic Qualification Ranking for the 24 teams, was announced confirmed by the FIVB on July 24, 2008.

The Drawing of lots was hosted by the 1 to 1 Energy Grand Slam, in Gstaad on July 26, as part of the 2008 SWATCH FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.

This table shows the results of the third placed teams after the pool play, and before the lucky loser matches.

The United States, Brazil and China managed to directly qualify two teams each, for the Round of 16, through the pool play.

On August 15, one of the spectators gave birth to a baby boy, in the bathroom of the Olympic beach volleyball stadium where she was watching the women's playoff.

Medical workers received the message about the woman at 10:10 a.m., and the baby was already born when they arrived 4 minutes later.

United States and Brazil have won most of the Olympic medals of beach volleyball. Picture shows then U.S. President George W. Bush with Misty May-Treanor (left) and Kerri Walsh Jennings of the U.S. Women's Beach Volleyball team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics .
President George W. Bush sends a ball back to United States team member Misty May-Treanor (pool B), during his visit to the Chaoyang Park practice courts on August 9, 2008, before the U.S. team began their matches.
Pool D game: China v. South Africa
USA v. Brazil quarterfinals