in Asia. Pools may be hosted in countries which are not actually involved in the competition. When all matches of the preliminary round have been played, the top n teams (overall standings) qualify for the final round(s), and the remaining ones leave the competition. The value of n depends on the number of participating teams and the format that will be employed in the finals, but it is usually five or six. If involved in the competition, host nation(s) automatically qualify for the final round(s). The 2013 Gran Prix has seen a record number of 20 teams taking part in the competition. The first 5 plus organisers Japan qualify to the finals. The FIVB has tried different formats for the final round(s). Originally, it was a round-robin "Top Four" system in which four teams played against each other and the winner was determined by number of wins, set average, point average, direct confrontation. For some years now (2004), the most commonly used is a mixed format: quarter-finalists are organized in two pools, and the top two teams in each pool play semi-finals and finals according to the Olympic format. In the preliminary round, a team is usually given the right to work with a list of eighteen players, from which the coach builds the twelve-player line-up that will be employed in a particular weekend. For the final round(s), only twelve players are allowed. Hosts List of hosts by number of final round championships hosted. Appearance China and Japan are the only teams that participated in all editions of the World Grand Prix. Results summary Medals summary MVP by edition 1993 – 1994 – 1995 – 1996 – 1997 – 1998 – 1999 – 2000 – 2001 – 2002 – 2003 – 2004 – 2005 – 2006 – 2007 – 2008 – 2009 – 2010 – 2011 – 2012 – 2013 – 2014 – 2015 – 2016 – 2017 – See also FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup FIVB Volleyball World League List of indoor volleyball world medalists Volleyball at the Summer Olympics Notes References External links Fédération Internationale de Volleyball – official website FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix – official website Results Archive – comprehensive results for all tournaments Recurring sporting events established in 1993 Recurring sporting events disestablished in