(WCMH) — While plenty of attention will be paid on sports like basketball and soccer during this summer’s Paris Olympics, there are other events worth checking out that showcase the power of teamwork.
The United States looks to defend gold medal titles in sports like women’s water polo and women’s volleyball. Meanwhile, the Americans are making their first Olympic appearance in women’s field hockey since 2016.
NBC4 is providing previews on every sport in this year’s Paris Olympics, which formally begin with the Opening Ceremony on July 26. Here’s a look at some of the team sports to keep an eye on during the 19 days of competition.
Field Hockey
- Most Medals: Men – India (12 medals, 8 gold), Women – Netherlands (9 medals, 4 gold)
- Defending champions: Belgium (men), Netherlands (women)
- Has been in the Olympic program since 1908
While the American men haven’t been in a field hockey tournament since 1956, the American women are back in the Olympics for the first time since 2016 after winning a qualifier back in January. The United States upset top-ranked teams including India and New Zealand and didn’t allow a goal until the final match when it lost to Germany.
But the U.S. women will likely face tough competition from powerhouse teams like Australia, Argentina and Great Britain, who are in the same pool as the Americans. Team USA hasn’t medaled at an Olympics since the Los Angeles Games of 1984, when it won bronze.
Handball
- Most medals: Men – France (5 medals, 3 gold), Women – Norway (7 medals, 2 gold)
- Defending champions: France (men and women)
- Appeared as field handball in 1936, returned to indoor in 1972
While the United States will not have a team in men’s or women’s handball, the French will be worth watching to see if they can defend both its men’s and women’s Olympic titles on home soil. France has won three of the last four gold medals in men’s handball and looks to maintain supremacy in the sport.
Handball is a fast paced sport where, similar to soccer and hockey, the goal is simple: to score more goals than the other team. Players can take up to three steps without dribbling the ball and can hold possession for up to three seconds. Teams must take a shot on goal after a maximum of four passes. Attackers must release the ball before stepping or landing inside the goal-area line.
Rugby Sevens
- Most Medals: Men – Fiji (2 medals, 2 gold), Women – New Zealand (2 medals, 1 gold)
- Defending champions: Fiji (men), New Zealand (Women)
- Played as rugby union 1900-1924, returned as rugby sevens in 2016
Before the athletics competition takes center stage at the Stade de France, rugby sevens will take place with play scheduled to begin two days before the Opening Ceremony. The United States will field teams in both the men’s and women’s sevens competitions, looking to deliver the country’s first medal in the sport since the American men won gold in rugby union a century ago in Paris.
The U.S. women’s squad is made up of a mix of Olympic veterans and rookies, led by Alev Kelter and Lauren Doyle, who are making their third consecutive Olympic appearance, as well as Army West Point graduate Capt. Samantha Sullivan. Meanwhile, the United States men’s team includes two-time Olympians Perry Baker and Madison Hughes as well as captain Kevon Williams, who hopes to build off of USA’s sixth place finish in Tokyo.
Indoor Volleyball
- Most Medals: Men – Brazil and Soviet Union (6 medals, 3 gold), Women – Soviet Union (6 medals, 4 gold)
- Defending champions: France (men), United States (women)
- Has been part of the Olympic program since 1964
The French men will look to repeat as Olympic champions on home soil while the American women will try to defend their gold medal under the direction of head coach Karch Kiraly. Both teams, who had never won gold prior to Tokyo, will face stiff international competition in Paris.
Poland is the top ranked team in men’s volleyball after winning last year’s Volleyball Nations League title and the European Championship. The United States men are ranked sixth and will face Japan, Argentina and Germany in pool play.
The American women are fifth in the world while Italy sits at the top of the world rankings. Team captain and outside hitter Jordan Larson is making her fourth consecutive Olympic appearance for the United States.
Beach Volleyball
- Most medals: Men – Brazil (6 medals, 2 gold), Women – United States (7 medals, 4 gold)
- Defending champions: Norway (men), United States (women)
- Has been part of the Olympic program since 1996
With the Eiffel Tower serving as a backdrop, beach volleyball will have one of the most spectacular settings of any of the sports being contested in Paris this summer. The United States looks to continue its stronghold on the women’s side as reigning world champions Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes try to deliver a medal for the fifth straight Olympics and a gold for the fifth time in six tournaments.
Meanwhile, the field of American men in the competition include Chase Budinger, a former NBA player who helped Arizona reach the Sweet 16 in the 2009 NCAA tournament before playing seven seasons in the NBA with four different teams. Budinger will play alongside Miles Evans as the No. 2 U.S. pair in Paris.
Water Polo
- Most medals: Men – Hungary (16 medals, 9 gold), Women – United States (6 medals, 3 gold)
- Defending champions: Serbia (men), United States (women)
- Has been part of the Olympics since 1900
While women weren’t able to play water polo at the Olympics until the Sydney 2000 games, the United States has dominated the competition in recent memory. The American women seek their fourth consecutive gold with Maggie Steffens leading the way. The team captain is the all-time leading goal scorer at the Olympics with 56 in 19 matches.
Meanwhile, Hungary, which has the most golds in men’s water polo with nine, looks to get back to the top of the podium after winning bronze in Tokyo. Croatia enters the Paris Games as the reigning world champion after defeating Italy earlier this year.
NBC4 Paris Olympics Previews