TENERIFE, Spain, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Women's basketball will adopt a new competition system for the Olympic Games and World Cup during the four-year cycle since 2019, according to the governing body FIBA here on Saturday.
FIBA qualifying tournaments will be in place for FIBA Continental Cups as means of deciding spots for both the Olympic Games and World Cup.
The new system will come into effect in November 2019.
As for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, FIBA Women's Olympic pre-qualifying tournaments 2019 in Africa, America and Asia will start in November, and they will vie for 10 spots for the Olympic qualifying tournaments 2020, along with the top six teams from FIBA Women's EuroBasket.
A total of 12 teams participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be decided through four qualifying tournaments.
Despite having already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, the 2018 FIBA Women's World Cup champions and the host country Japan will play the Olympic qualifying tournaments and advance in every round, regardless of their results.
Qualifiers for the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup will adopt the similar path, as African, American and Asian teams will go through pre-qualifying tournaments for 10 spots in total in the qualifying tournaments. The other six teams in qualifying tournaments will come out from the FIBA EuroBasket.
The 16 teams will contend for 12 spots of the 2022 World Cup through four qualifying tournaments.
Despite having already qualified for the 2022 World Cup, the Tokyo Olympic Games winner and host country of the tournament will play the qualifiers and advance in every round, regardless of their results.
Although FIBA Women's Continental Cups are set to become stand-alone events, the final standings at the previous Cups determine which teams to participate in the first round of regional qualifiers for both Women's World Cup and Olympic Games.
