How to qualify for 3x3 basketball at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained

3x3 basketball made its debut at Tokyo 2020 where teams of three players battled to score in a single basket with pumping music playing in the background.

Now the world will have the chance to experience it all again at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, beginning with the qualification pathway that starts in November 2022. 

Find out everything you need to know about the route to the next Olympic Games below.

How many athletes will compete in 3x3 basketball at Paris 2024?

A total of 64 athletes will compete at Paris 2024 - the same number as Tokyo 2020.

In both the men’s and women’s events, eight teams of four athletes (three on-court and one substitute) will compete.

Each NOC will be eligible to qualify a maximum of two teams, one for the men’s competition and one for the women’s.

What is the 3x3 basketball qualification pathway for Paris 2024?

As opposed to many other sports, the NOC of the host country won’t receive a quota place for both the men’s and women’s events, and qualification won’t be automatic.

The qualification process for 3x3 basketball at Paris 2024 is divided into four phases.

Phase 1: Ranking List of 1 November 2023 at 1200 UTC - three quota places per gender

In total, one quota place will be allocated to the host country, either for the men’s or women’s competition. FIBA will assign one quota place to their highest-ranked team from the NOC, even if it is outside of the top three. In the event of a tie, the quota will be allocated to the women’s team.

The two or three (depending on the assignment of a host country place) highest-ranked NOCs of each gender on the Ranking List will each earn one quota place for their NOC. However, not more than two NOCs from the same continent (Americas, Europe, Africa Asia and Oceania) can earn a quota in this phase.

If the team of the host country NOC is outside the top three and receives a quota place, only two quota places will be allocated in the respective gender as per the Ranking List.

The Ranking List is calculated based on the federation points of each NOC. Points are earned, for both genders, based on the sum of the ranking of each federation’s top 25 national players.

Points can be earned in the 12 months prior to 1 November 2023, and the total takes into account only the best nine FIBA-endorsed events on this period.

Discover the list of FIBA-endorsed events

Find the current FIBA 3x3 Ranking List

Phase 2: 2024 FIBA Universality-driven Olympic Tournament 1 - one quota place per gender

Eight teams per gender will participate in the first 2024 FIBA Universality-driven Olympic Tournament (UOQT).

The highest placed NOC for each respective gender will receive one quota place with the date and location of the competition still to be confirmed.

Teams participating in this tournament include:

• The host NOC of UOQT, if they have not yet qualified through the Ranking List
• The seven (or more if the host NOC has already qualified) highest ranked NOCs on the Ranking List who have not yet qualified.

One important thing to note is that only NOCs that have not been represented in 5v5 Basketball (irrespective of gender) in the past two editions of the Olympic Games are eligible to participate in the UOQT 1.

Phase 3: FIBA Universality-driven Olympic Tournament 2 - one quota place per gender

Eight teams per gender will participate in the second 2024 FIBA Universality-driven Olympic Qualifying Tournament (UOQT).

The highest placed NOC in each respective gender will receive one quota place with the date and location of the competition still to be confirmed.

The teams participating in this tournament will include:

• The highest-placed NOC in the standings of each of the 2023 Continental Cups (Asia & Oceania together, America, Europe and Africa) who have not yet qualified.
• The host NOC of UOQT, if they have not yet qualified for the Games or to the UOQT 2.
• The host NOC of the Olympic Games (France), if they have not yet qualified for the Games or to the UOQT 2.

If a total of eight teams is not reached, teams will be selected from up to eight of the highest-placed NOCs in the standings of the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup who have not yet qualified for the Games.

Phase 4: FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) - three quota places per gender

Sixteen teams per gender will participate in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

The three highest-placed NOCs for each respective gender will receive one quota place with the date and location of the competition still to be confirmed.

Teams participating in this tournament include:

• The host NOC of the OQT and the host country of the Olympic Games, if they have not yet qualified for the Olympic Games or the OQT.
• The 14 (or more, if the host NOC of the OQT and/or the NOC of the host country of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 have already qualified) highest ranked NOCs on the Ranking List, if not yet qualified for the Games.

A minimum of two teams per gender from the same zone shall participate in the OQT, with a maximum of 10 teams in total.

What is the Paris 2024 3x3 Basketball competition schedule?

The Paris 2024 3x3 basketball competition will be held between Tuesday 30 July and Monday 5 August at Place de la Concorde, where the competitions for skateboarding, breaking and BMX Freestyle will also be held**.**

Teams and athletes to watch in 3x3 Basketball at Paris 2024

Latvia won the men’s gold medal at Tokyo 2020, beating ROC in the final 21-18. The bronze medal went to Serbia, with Domovic Bulut leading them to a 21-14 win over Belgium.

In the women’s competition, the USA were crowned champions with Stefanie Dolson a star player in the 18-15 victory over ROC. Wang Lili’s People’s Republic of China claimed bronze with a 16-14 win over France. 

However, at the 2022 World Cup in Antwerp, neither of the Olympic champions made the final. In the men’s event, Latvia lost out to eventual winners Serbia in the quarter-final, with Lithuania winning silver. Serbia’s Dejan Majstorovic, who scored 44 points in the tournament, finished as MVP.

In the women’s competition, the USA lost against Canada in the quarters, while Paris 2024 hosts France, led by MVP Laetitia Guapo, claimed the title with a victory over Canada.

3x3 basketball qualification timeline for Paris 2024

• 1 September 2022: Host NOC to confirm to FIBA the use of its host country places
• 1 November 2023: FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking List is published
• Within fifteenth day after the ranking cut-off: FIBA confirms in writing to the NOCs the quota places obtained
• Within thirty days after the ranking cut-off: The NOCs to confirm to FIBA the use of the allocated quota places
• Within fifteenth days after the previous step: FIBA to reallocate all unused quota places
• 2024 (date TBD)*: UOQT 1 and location tbc
• Within five days after the event: FIBA confirms in writing to the NOCs the quota places obtained
• Within ten days after the event: The NOCs to confirm to FIBA the use of the allocated quota places
• Within five days after previous step: FIBA to reallocate all unused quota places
• 2024 (after UOQT 1) (date TBD)*: UOQT 2 and location tbc
• Within five days after the event: FIBA confirms in writing to the NOCs the quota places obtained
• Within ten days after the event: The NOCs to confirm to FIBA the use of the allocated quota places
• Within five days after previous step: FIBA to reallocate all unused quota places
• 2024 (after UOQT 2) (date TBD)*: OQT and location tbc
• Within five days after the event: FIBA confirms in writing to the NOCs the quota places obtained
• Within ten days after the event: The NOCs to confirm to FIBA the use of the allocated quota places
• Within five days after previous step: FIBA to reallocate all unused quota places
• XX June 2024: FIBA to reallocate all unused quota places
• 24 June 2024: Eligibility cut-off deadline
• 8 July 2024: Paris 2024 Sport Entries deadline
• 26 July - 11 August 2024: Olympic Games 2024

(*) FIBA to communicate the date and location by no later than 31 January 2024

Find out more about the qualification system for other sports that will feature at Paris 2024.