Olympic Qualifying Tournaments Preview: Will Spain go to Paris?

8 teams have qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games, what will be the other 4 national selections taking part in basketball's most prestigious tournament? Here's a look at the various Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) taking place in just a few days' time, starting with the one in Spain.

OQTs format

In addition to , automatically qualified as hosts, 7 teams have secured their tickets on the basis of their performances at the 2023 World Cup. These places were determined by continent. 2 for Europe and the Americas, 1 for Oceania, 1 for Africa and 1 for Asia. The best teams per continent were thus awarded their places.

World champion and runner-up Serbia represent Europe. Semi-finalists Canada and the USA represent the Americas. Australia, who finished 10th, represents Oceania. South Sudan, who finished 17th, represents Africa, while Japan, who finished 19th, were the best Asian team at the World Cup. Now, how do we select the remaining teams?

The Olympic qualifying tournaments, which take place from July 2 to 7 in Spain, Latvia, Greece and Puerto Rico respectively, determine the four teams that will complete the men's group for this summer's Games.

Each tournament features six teams divided into two groups of three. The top two teams in each group qualify for the semi-finals. The top team in one group plays the second-placed team in the other. The winner of the final qualifies for the Olympic Games in Paris. Here's the first tournament, how the teams got there, and what's in store for the teams taking part.

Who will win the first ticket to the Olympics?

Group A features Angola. Angola is Africa's greatest historical power, but one that has been on the decline since 2015. They finished 26th in the last World Cup, ranking them 3rd among African nations, a sign of its standing on the continental stage. However, they are hoping to return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008, and are counting on Jilson Bango, the Angolan league's two-time MVP, and Silvio De Sousa to get them there. But for the 11-time African champions, reaching the semi-finals of the tournament would already be a good achievement.

Spain are the tournament hosts and overwhelming favorites. Reigning European champions, La Familia are coming off a disappointing World Cup where they finished 9th, their worst result since 1994. That said, the Spaniards, led by the Hernangómez brothers and especially Willy, MVP of EuroBasket 2022, are expected to be a formidable opponent at these Olympic Games.

Since the turn of the millennium, Lebanon have consistently been one of the best teams on their continent. The Asian runners-up finished 23rd at the last World Cup, the second-best Asian team in the tournament. They too are aiming for a place in the semi-finals, but it's unlikely that Lebanon will reach the Olympic Games for the first time in their history. That won't stop Omari Spellman and his team from trying their luck.

In Group B, we find the Bahamas. The Bahamas are traditionally the dominant nation in the Caribbean and earned their place in the tournament by winning the Olympic Pre Qualification Tournament of the Americas, beating Argentina in the final. Not a team to be underestimated, with players like Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon and Buddy Hield, Chris Demarco's men have the potential to hurt and will be fully confident of their chances of qualifying for the Games for the first time.

Outsiders during the World Cup, Finland can feel disappointed to have finished only 21st at the World Cup. Despite this, the Susijengi's best modern generation will try to secure a return to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1964 if they can play their cards right. This will be without Lauri Markkanen, whose nagging right shoulder injury prevents him from lining up this summer. Without him, players like Mikael Jantunen, EuroCup and Leaders Cup winner with Paris Basketball, and Olivier Nkamhoua will have the onerous task of carrying the team without their leader.

Finally, Poland earned their place by winning one of the European Olympic pre-qualification tournaments, beating Bosnia in the final. Poland loves being an underdog, as their performance at EuroBasket 2022 where The Eagles finished 4th demonstrates. Michał Sokołowski, MVP of the Italian Cup, will be the leader of this team, which hopes to be able to take part in the Games for the first time since 1980, but it's difficult to see them go beyond the semi-finals.

Predictions

Spain and Lebanon should emerge from Group A, while the Bahamas and Finland should emerge from Group B. Spain would then beat Finland, while the Bahamas beat Lebanon.

In the final, Spain could secure their ticket to the Olympic Games.

The winner of the tournament will be placed in Group A, along with Australia, Canada and the winner of the tournament to be held in Greece, in what is already shaping up to be a very interesting pool on paper. It remains to be seen who will take part.