The men's Olympic event involves 14 teams.
The top six finishers from the last Games automatically qualify for the final round.
The other eight teams must play a preliminary round, a two-group round-robin format from which the top team in each group qualifies for the final round.
Two points are awarded for a win, one for a tie and none for a defeat.
The final round also follows the round-robin format.
No teams are eliminated from this stage but the final group order will decide fixtures in the quarter-finals, the first of the knockout rounds.
In the event of a tie in one of the knockout rounds, a 10-minute sudden-death overtime period is played (20 minutes in the final). If the game is still tied, penalty shots take place.
The women's competition has eight teams, with a preliminary round, semi-finals and final.
