France celebrate after being selected to host women's Olympic qualifying event

PARIS (2016 Rio Olympics) - There are plenty of smiles and high-fives being exchanged in France after the country was named as the host nation for the 12-team FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT). The Executive Committee of FIBA announced on Tuesday that the city of Reze (Nantes) would stage the event from 13-19 June.

Five berths for the Rio de Janeiro Games will be up for grabs. Four years ago, France travelled to Ankara, Turkey, and claimed one of the spots at the WOQT for the London Games. Les Bleues then played in London and made it to the Final before falling to the United States.

They would have qualified directly for this summer's Olympics in Brazil had they won the EuroBasket Women title in Budapest last summer. However, Serbia defeated them in the Final, 76-68.

To play an Olympic qualifying tournament at home in front of our crowd, it's an opportunity. We must not forget, however, our goal: to qualify for the Olympic Games of Rio 2016. The other teams that will be present in Nantes will have exactly the same goal as us. Twelve teams are at the starting line of the OQT. For us, (we have to) do the job and walk away with one of the five tickets for Brazil - France coach Valerie Garnier

France had huge, record-setting crowds attend the men's EuroBasket last summer, while in 2013 the country did a terrific job of staging the EuroBasket Women. Garnier's side will be among the favorites to reach Rio, with Argentina, Belarus, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Korea, New Zealand, Nigeria, Spain, Turkey and Venezuela also taking aim at the Olympics. Spain was the other nation to file an application to host the WOQT, something it did last in 2008.

Patrick Beesley, the French Basketball Federation (FFBB)'s technical director of the national teams, says the women's program was disappointed not to win last year's EuroBasket Women title but at no time lost its focus of making it to a second straight Olympic Games.

"Immediately after the silver medal won by the France women's team at the London 2012 Games, our eyes were already glued to the Olympics in Rio 2016," he said in an FFBB statement. "Participating in the Olympic Games is a key for our France teams and making ​​this the home of the WOQT is an asset for Les Bleues, who can count on the unconditional support of their fans. We remember the incredible fervor shown at the EuroBasket Women 2013 that was organized in France, which led us to the silver medal."

The French appetite for international basketball has been big. FFBB President Jean-Pierre Siutat says the country has proven it will be a good place for the WOQT. 

Record-setting crowds watched EuroBasket 2015 in Lille

"After the EuroBasket Women 2013 and EuroBasket 2015, which took place in France, being chosen to host the 2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament shows recognition by FIBA of our expertise in organizing major international events, and our ability to make it a big success," he said.

"Nantes and its region is a land of basketball. - Siutat

The French players are excited about having another opportunity to play in front of the home fans. Among the standouts the supporters will be cheering for is Sandrine Gruda.

FIBA