Securing a Spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics
With the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris fast approaching, teams from around the world are vying for the final spots to compete on the global stage. The 2024 FIBA men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) will determine the four teams that will complete the men’s basketball field for the Games.
Each OQT has six teams divided into two groups of three. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, and the winner of the final will qualify for the Paris Olympics. The winners will join the eight teams that have already secured their spots: the United States, Italy, Spain, France, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and Australia.
The OQTs will take place from July 2-7 in Greece, Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain. While some of the games will be broadcast by local television partners, not every match will be shown. Fans can also stream all the action live or on-demand through Courtside 1891.
On the women’s side, the U.S. women’s basketball team has already clinched their spot in Paris. Led by the legendary Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, the squad looks primed to continue the United States’ dominance in the sport. Other women’s teams that have qualified include Australia, Canada, Belgium, China, France, Puerto Rico, and Serbia.
In addition to basketball, the U.S. is poised to have a strong showing across numerous sports at the 2024 Olympics. According to the latest Virtual Medal Table forecast from Nielsen’s Gracenote, Team USA is projected to top the overall medal count with 123 total, including 37 gold medals. This would be the best performance by the Americans since the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Athletics and swimming are expected to be the key contributors to the U.S. medal haul, accounting for nearly half of the country’s projected podium finishes. Stars like sprinter Noah Lyles, hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and swimmers Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel will headline the American contingent.
The host nation of France is also expected to have a banner Olympics, with the forecast indicating they will earn 56 medals, their best performance since 1900 when Paris last hosted the Games. French athletes to watch include pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, javelin thrower Kevin Mayer, and the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
While the global superstars will capture much of the attention, the 2024 Olympics will also feature feel-good stories of young athletes fulfilling their dreams. Sixteen-year-old Quincy Wilson, for example, earned a spot on the U.S. track and field team after an impressive showing at the trials, where he broke the under-18 world record in the 400m not once, but twice. Wilson will become the youngest male track and field athlete to ever compete in the Olympics.
Another inspiring storyline is that of the Abe siblings from Japan. Hifumi and Uta Abe both won judo gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and they are now aiming to defend their titles in Paris. The Abes have a unique dynamic, with Hifumi, 26, saying he is motivated to match his younger sister’s success.
Of course, not every athlete’s journey to the 2024 Olympics has been smooth. Australian soccer star Sam Kerr, one of the biggest names in women’s football, was recently ruled out of the Games due to a serious knee injury. Her absence is a major blow to the Matildas’ gold medal aspirations.
Similarly, Tunisian swimming sensation Ahmed Hafnaoui, the reigning Olympic 400m freestyle champion, is doubtful for Paris 2024 after suffering an undisclosed injury. His potential absence would be a huge loss, as Hafnaoui was poised to challenge for multiple medals in the pool.
Injuries and unforeseen circumstances are an unfortunate reality that athletes must navigate in their pursuit of Olympic glory. But for those who are able to compete in Paris, the opportunity to represent their country on the world’s biggest sporting stage is a dream come true, regardless of the final medal tally.