Lausanne, Switzerland, January 12, 2016 - The World Olympic Qualification Tournaments which also double as qualification tournaments for Asian teams will take place from May 14 to 22 (Women) and from May 28 to June 5 (Men).
The women's event from May 14 to 22 will be played by hosts Japan, the top three ranked teams in Asia (Korea, Thailand, Kazakhstan), the second and third placed teams from the European Olympic Qualification Tournament (Netherlands and Italy), the second placed team from the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament (Peru), and the second placed team from the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament (Dominican Republic).
The men's competition will take place from May 28 to June 5 and include hosts Japan, the top three ranked teams in Asia (Australia, China and Iran), the second and third placed teams from the European Olympic Qualification Tournament (France and Poland), the second placed team from the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament (Venezuela) and the second placed team from the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament (Canada).
A final vacancy per gender will be decided at a second set of World Olympic Qualification Tournaments due to be held in the period from May 14 to June 5, 2016 featuring the third placed team from the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament, the third placed team from the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament and the second and third placed teams from the African Olympic Qualification Tournament.
The Men's event will see Chile take on Mexico and the second and third placed teams from the African Olympic Qualification Tournament which is currently being held in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo. The women's competition will feature Colombia, Puerto Rico and the second and third placed teams from the African Olympic Qualification Tournament due to take place in Cameroon from February 12 to 19.
Read about the Olympic qualification process
here.