9 Men's & 7 Women's teams already qualified for 2012 Olympic Basketball

The Basketball tournament at the 2012 Olympics in London – respected by many as the highest level of basketball competition in the world – will pit 12 of the world’s strongest teams from every region in the Men’s and Women’s divisions against each other. Qualification of the tournament began with the FIBA World Championship for Men in 2010; to date, nine Men’s and seven Women’s teams have qualified for the Olympics.

The 2012 Olympics Basketball Tournament will be held from July 28 – August 12, 2012 at the Basketball Arena and the North Greenwich Arena in London. The USA, who won both the Men’s and Women’s gold at the 2008 Olympics in China, will be defending their championships.

Here are the teams who have qualified so far:

Men

Host Nation: Great Britain

2010 FIBA World Championship: USA

2011 FIBA Africa Championship: Tunisia

2011 FIBA Americas Championship: Argentina, Brazil

2011 FIBA Oceania Championship: Australia

2011 FIBA Europe Championship: Spain, France

2011 FIBA Asia Championship: China

Women

Host Nation: Great Britain

2010 FIBA World Championship: USA

2011 FIBA Africa Championship: Angola

2011 FIBA Americas Championship: Brazil

2011 FIBA Oceania Championship: Australia

2011 FIBA Europe Championship: Russia

2011 FIBA Asia Championship: China

An Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be held between June-July 2012 to determine the remaining spots. In the men’s tournament (July 2-8 2012), 12 teams will take part to determine the final three spots. In the women’s tournament (June 25-July1 2012), 12 teams will take part to determine the final five spots.

Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Angola, Nigeria, Jordan, Korea, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, New Zealand, Russia, Macedonia, Lithuania, Greece.

Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Turkey, Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Mali, Senegal, Japan, Korea, New Zealand.