FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament

The 2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) will take place in Reze (Nantes), France, from 13-19 June. 

Twelve (12) teams that fell short of qualifying directly for the Rio 2016 Games will get another shot at fulfilling their Olympic aspirations by doing battle for the last five priceless tickets on offer.

They are: Argentina, Belarus, Cameroon, China, Cuba, France, Korea, New Zealand, Nigeria, Spain, Turkey and Venezuela.

The draw for the 2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament will take place at The House of Basketball, FIBA's headquarters, on Tuesday 26 January (18:30 CET/GMT +1) and can be watched live on youtube.com/fiba.

HISTORY

The most recent editions of the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament took place in 2008 and in 2012. They witnessed some highly enjoyable and momentous games, played out among intense excitement and tension - with unforgettable contrasts in emotions between those who fell short and others who were left joyously celebrating their successful Olympic passage.

There have also been several chapters of women's basketball history. In Madrid in 2008, Belarus announced their arrival on the global stage by winning the event and punching their ticket to the Olympic Games in Beijing off the back of stellar efforts from their twin towers Yelena Leuchanka and Anastasiya Verameyenka.

There was also unbridled joy for Latvia as they also sealed a maiden Olympic appearance, thanks primarily to their national team legend Anete Jekabsone.

Fast-forward four years later in Ankara and it was France celebrating as they cemented a place at London 2012 and then claimed an Olympic silver medal.

And, with five places for Rio still waiting to be filled, plenty more emotional, exhilarating and potentially historic moments are lying in wait.