The 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments see host nations Greece, Spain, Latvia, and Puerto Rico striving to overcome a historical trend of hosts failing to secure Olympic spots.
The 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQT) are just around the corner, and the history of host nations suggests caution for the organizers.
Lebanon
Spain
AngolaJust to start, none of the OQT hosts from the last Olympic cycle made it to the Tokyo Olympics.
The history of the FIBA OQT dates back to 1960, when Italy hosted the first tournament. Over the past 64 years, the competition has evolved, changing its format, host system, and even experiencing breaks from the tournaments.
Basically, the OQT is the last shot for teams to qualify for the Olympic Basketball Tournament. The best non-champions from the different FIBA World zones compete for the final spots in the Summer Olympics.
This year, from July 2 to July 7, Latvia, Spain, Greece, and Puerto Rico will host four tournaments. This marks only the second time in history that the OQT will be hosted by four nations simultaneously.
Initially, the tournament was hosted by a single country, but financial reasons led FIBA to extend hosting duties across multiple nations. Hosting rights for the OQT are pricey, with an estimated cost of around €3 million just for the privilege and another million likely needed for the actual organization.
Considering the stats on host nations qualifying for the Olympics, federations think twice before paying the check to FIBA.
In 2021 (with the Olympics postponed from 2020 due to COVID-19), Canada (Victoria), Croatia (Split), Lithuania (Kaunas), and Serbia (Belgrade) hosted the tournaments. However, as mentioned earlier, all these teams failed to advance to Japan.
Canada lost in the semifinals against the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Serbia were defeated in the finals by Slovenia and Italy, respectively, while Croatia stumbled in the semis against Germany.
In 2016, multiple countries hosted OQTs again, and it turned out to be one of those rare instances when a host country made it to the Olympics. Among the hosts -- the Philippines, Italy, and Serbia -- it was the Balkan country that clinched their spot in the Rio Olympics by winning their qualifiers in Belgrade.
Nikola Jokic and Co. went on to win the silver medal, falling to Team USA in the final.
In 2012 and 2008, the qualifying tournaments were hosted by a single nation: Venezuela and Greece, respectively. Greece became the second country in this century to qualify for the Olympics after hosting the OQT in 2008. However, their journey in Beijing ended in the quarterfinal stage with a loss to Argentina.
Meanwhile, Lithuania, Russia, and Nigeria qualified for the 2012 London Olympics through the tournament in Venezuela.
Looking further back, there were no OQTs in the 2004, 2000, and 1996 Olympic cycles. The qualification system was simpler back then: the reigning world champions and the host country automatically qualified, along with the winners of the five continental championships, the runner-up and third-place teams from the Americas and Europe competitions, and the runner-up from Oceania.
Basketball at the 2004 Athens Olympics – Men's qualification:
| Africa | Americas | Asia | Europe | Oceania | Automatic qualifiers |
| Angola | United States | China | Lithuania | Australia | Serbia and Montenegro (World champions) |
| Argentina | Spain | New Zealand | Greece (Olympic host) | ||
| Puerto Rico | Italy |
A similar qualification system was used for the Sydney (2000) and Atlanta (1996) Olympics.
In 2000, each FIBA zone was allocated the following qualifying berths for the Olympics:
- FIBA Africa: 1 team (Champion)
- FIBA Americas: 2 teams (Champion and runner-up)
- FIBA Asia: 1 team (Champion)
- FIBA Europe: 5 teams (Top five EuroBasket places)
- FIBA Oceania: 1 team (Champion)
Additionally, Yugoslavia qualified automatically by winning the 1998 FIBA World Championship, and Australia secured a spot as the host country.
In 1996, the reigning world champions and the host country (both the USA) qualified automatically. Other qualifiers included the winners of the five continental championships, the runner-up and third-place teams from the Americas, the runner-up from Asia, and the second through fourth places from the European Championship.
Diving even deeper into OQT history, a special qualifying tournament was often held specifically for European teams to allocate extra berths.
From 1960 to 1976, the OQT was organized by the host nation of the Olympic Games. For example, in 1976, the tournament was held in Canada, coinciding with the Montreal Olympics.
In particular cases, Switzerland also hosted the OQT, serving as a neutral country during the Cold War.
FIBA OQT history and host countries' qualification:
| Year | OQT host countries | Qualified teams for the Olympics |
| 2020 (2021 due to COVID-19) | Lithuania, Canada, Croatia, Serbia | Slovenia, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy |
| 2016 | Philippines, Italy, Serbia | France, Croatia, Serbia |
| 2012 | Venezuela | Lithuania, Russia, Nigeria |
| 2008 | Greece | Croatia, Germany, Greece |
| 2004 | - | - |
| 2000 | - | - |
| 1996 | - | - |
| 1992 | Spain | Lithuania, Croatia, CIS (Unified Team), Germany *Spain did not participate, they qualified as Olympic hosts |
| 1988 | Netherlands | Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Spain *Netherlands did not participate |
| 1984 | France | Spain, Germany, France |
| 1980 | Switzerland | Italy, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Sweden, Poland *Switzerland did not participate |
| 1976 | Canada | Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Mexico *Canada did not participate, they qualified as Olympic hosts |
| 1972 | Germany | Poland, Spain *Germany did not participate, they qualified as Olympic hosts |
| 1968 | Mexico, Switzerland | Poland, Spain, Bulgaria, SFR Yugoslavia *Mexico (Olympic host) and Switzerland did not participate |
| 1964 | Japan, Switzerland | Mexico, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Finland, Hungary *Japan (Olympic host) and Switzerland did not participate |
| 1960 | Italy | Czechoslovakia, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia *Italy did not participate, they qualified as Olympic hosts |
Looking at this year, the hosts aren't feeling safe and sound, too.
Greece has Luka Doncic's Slovenia and star-studded Croatia in their tournament, Puerto Rico faces an uphill battle against Italy and Lithuania, Latvia will have to navigate through equally competitive teams like Georgia, Brazil, and Montenegro, while Spain should face the dangerous Bahamas squad, led by NBA stars.
Only time will tell if 2024 will be a more successful year for those playing in front of their home crowds.
Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Piraeus, Greece
| Group A | Group B |
| Slovenia | Egypt |
| New Zealand | Greece |
| Croatia | Dominican Republic |
Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia
| Group A | Group B |
| Georgia | Brazil |
| Philippines | Cameroon |
| Latvia | Montenegro |
Olympic Qualifying Tournament
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
| Group A | Group B |
| Mexico | Italy |
| Ivory Coast | Puerto Rico |
| Lithuania | Bahrain |
Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain
| Group A | Group B |
| Lebanon | Finland |
| Angola | Poland |
| Spain | Bahamas |
