One berth for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be up for grabs at the WBSC Softball Europe/Africa Qualifier in Dutch city Utrecht, where action is due to start tomorrow ©WBSC

A single berth for next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo will be up for grabs at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Softball Europe/Africa Qualifier in Dutch city Utrecht, where action is due to start tomorrow.

The eight competing teams have been divided into two groups for the first three days of the event at Sportpark De Paperclip.

Group A is made up of Great Britain, hosts The Netherlands, South Africa and Spain, while Group B comprises Botswana, Czech Republic, France and Italy.

The top two teams in each group are set to advance to a super round, scheduled for Friday (July 26) and Saturday (July 27).

The winner of that will gain a place at Tokyo 2020.

Italy, The Netherlands, Britain, Czech Republic, France and Spain all claimed a place in the first Olympic qualifier of the year after securing top-six finishes at the recently-concluded Women’s European Championship in Czech Republic and Poland.

South Africa is aiming to become the first African nation to qualify for the Olympic Games softball competition ©WBSC
South Africa is aiming to become the first African nation to qualify for the Olympic Games softball competition ©WBSC

The final saw Italy beat The Netherlands 3-2, while Britain defeated Czech Republic 5-1 in the bronze medal game.

Botswana and South Africa secured their spots by reaching the final of the Women's Softball Africa Qualifier in May.

Held at South Africa's Rietondale Stadium in Pretoria, Botswana overcame the hosts 8-1 to become African continental champions.

The United States have already qualified for Tokyo 2020 having triumphed at the 2018 Women's World Championship in Chiba in Japan.

Japan have also qualified as the host nation.

Two places will be available at the Americas Qualification Event in Canadian city Surrey, from August 25 to September 1, while another one will be on the line at the Asia/Oceania Qualification Event in Shanghai, from September 24 to 29, to complete the six-team line-up at Tokyo 2020.