RIO DE JANEIRO (Olympics) - Cuba passed up the chance to play at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Women in Caracas, Venezuela this summer but the country has agreed to take on Brazil in a couple of friendlies before they travel to the London Games.

The sides will meet on 6 and 8 July in Foz do Iguacu.

Before meeting the Cubans, historically one of the strongest women's teams in the Americas, Brazil will square off in a couple of scrimmages against Chile.

The dates for those games have yet to be set, though they are likely to be held in June.

Hortencia, the Brazilian basketball great who led the country to the 1994 world title and now works with the federation, has expressed her satisfaction that star center Erika de Souza is with the team.

Erika has been a player with the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA but is going to be playing at her first Olympics.

"It was very important for Brazilian basketball to have all of the players from the beginning to the end of the preparations for the Olympics," Hortencia said.

FIBA