TORONTO – The road to the Rio Olympics for Canada’s men’s basketball team will now go through Mexico City.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced Monday that the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament, originally slated to be held in Monterrey, Mexico, will be held in country’s capital, Aug. 31-Sept. 12.
The Palacio de los Deportes, built for the 1968 Olympics, will host the tournament. The venue also hosted the 1989 FIBA Americas championship.
The Canadian men are looking to make their first Olympic appearance since the 2000 Sydney Games. The top two countries earn automatic Olympic berths from a field that includes Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Uruguay and Mexico.
Edmonton will host the women’s FIBA Americas qualifying tournament, Aug. 9-16.