MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments promise to be absorbing for both those involved and for the fans watching, but what should we all be looking out for?

Here is everything you need to know about the tournaments being held in Ostend, Belgrade and Bourges.

Japan and USA guaranteed to be in Tokyo

As Olympic hosts in Tokyo, Japan have an automatic ticket to the event, although will still play in the Ostend tournament. Similarly, USA are also guaranteed to play in the Japanese capital as they booked their spot by winning the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018. They will still participate in Group A in Belgrade.

History to be made

This is the fourth time that FIBA have arranged the Qualifiers, following Madrid in 2008, Ankara in 2012 and Nantes  in 2016. But 2020 marks the first time they will take place across multiple sites, with four groups spread across three countries in Belgium (Ostend), France (Bourges) and Serbia (Belgrade). 

The other note of history is that this is the first time so many nations will take a ticket. In the past, the winners of the Continental Championships were all given automatic passage. The 10 available tickets is double what was handed out in the past, making the tournaments bigger and more prominent than ever. There will be 24 games in total with eight on each of the three game days across the three hosts cities!

Watch out for possible Olympic first-timers

One of the most fascinating elements will be to see who books a first-ever Olympic ticket via the FIBA-organized Qualifiers. In 2008, that joy was felt by Belarus and Latvia. Then in 2012, both Turkey and Croatia joined the Olympic party. There were no new faces emerged out of Nantes in 2016, but that could be about to change again in 2020. The quartet of Sweden, Belgium, Mozambique and Puerto Rico are all hunting for a maiden spot at the Olympics.

The biggest names in women's ball

There is going to be an explosion of star dust over these tournaments, since the list of global standouts preparing to compete is immense. The return of Breanna Stewart for USA will headline in Belgrade, with the likes of home favorite Sonja Vasic also prominent in our Group A players to watch. Also in the Serbian capital, Alba Torrens will make a comeback with Spain and Chinese ace Han Xu will create plenty of excitement in our Group B players to watch.

All eyes will be on French guard Marine Johannes as she returns to her former home court in Bourges, with the towering Liz Cambage of the Opals also on our watch-list at Le Prado.

Meanwhile Emma Meesseman will be expected to carry the hopes of the home Cats in Belgium, with Kia Nurse of Canada also expected to shine on our Top 5 to watch in Ostend. 

The longest wait

Apart from those four nations who have never set foot at the Olympics, it is Nigeria who have waited the longest since last appearing. They played at their only previous games in Athens 16 years ago. Could this be the time for a return?

The signs are good, having featured and shown themselves well at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2018, either side of FIBA Women's AfroBasket gold medals. They have big quality and the likes of Evelyn Akhator and Ezinne Kalu are in good form.

A good omen for Serbia and Belgium?

The hosts of the Qualifying Tournaments have always progressed to the Olympics in each of the previous three editions. Although having the home crowd can work both ways, with some players and teams riding high on the vocal backing and energy, while others could buckle under the pressure and weight of expectation. Will one of these two make history for the wrong reasons and miss out? Of course, France know what it is like to get it done, having done so in Nantes back in 2016.

A 'Group of Death'?

Almost every tournament has one and we won't disappoint you. While all groups look fiercely competitive, the Ostend one looks even tougher than the rest. With Japan assured of making it, three is a crowd for hosts Belgium, Canada and Sweden, with only two of the trio able to get that Tokyo ticket. In terms of expectation, experience, talent, most observers think on paper at least there is virtually nothing to choose between them. It means that Belgium v Sweden, Belgium v Canada and Sweden v Canada could all be electric.

The Three 'C's

While major tournaments come and go, there seems to be something particularly different about the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in terms of the tension. Because of the wider role of the Olympics beyond basketball itself, the sheer elation and joy from those who make it, against the sheer despair and devastation of those who don't, always feels amplified. So, get ready for a whole lot of extreme tension and passion, because this is a time for cool heads, composure and clutch!

FIBA