Venezuela and Turkey will host the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) for Men and Women respectively. The decision was made by FIBA’s Central Board at its meeting in the Spanish capital on Saturday.

Venezuela will welcome the 12 national men’s teams vying for the last three Olympic berths on offer at the OQT, which will take place in the country's capital and largest city of Caracas from 2-8 July 2012.

The previous week (25 June-1 July 2012), in its capital of Ankara, Turkey is to play host to the 12 national women’s teams battling for the five remaining places to compete in the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament.

For Venezuela, this is the first time hosting a major international basketball tournament.

The country’s men’s national team booked its place in the OQT by virtue of coming in fifth at this past summer’s FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

The Venezuelans are looking to return to the Olympics for the first time since 1992.

Joining them in the OQT are Angola, Dominican Republic, Macedonia, Greece, Jordan, Korea, Lithuania, New Zealand, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and Russia.

Meanwhile, Turkey is to host its first major women’s international basketball tournament since EuroBasket Women 2005.

The Turks organised the 2010 edition of the FIBA World Championship and were awarded the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.