The two-year qualification process will begin on May 30 and sees 252 athletes qualify directly through their IJF world ranking.

Of these places, 154 are available for male competitors with the top 22 ranked athletes - on the world rankings list as of May 30 2016 - from each of the seven weight categories given a spot at Rio 2016.

For women, the first 14 athletes on the world rankings list from each of the seven weight categories will claim one of the 94 spots available for Rio 2016.

In both the men's and women's events, only one athlete per National Olympic Committee (NOC) per weight category can be selected to compete at the Olympic Games, meaning if an NOC has more than one athlete within the top 22 or 14 in a given category, they will have the overall decision on which athlete to send to the Games.

The IJF World Rankings List will be used to determine the majority of places at Rio 2016 ©IJF



An additional 100 quota places are available through a continental qualification process which takes into consideration an athletes' continental representation alongside their IJF world ranking.

This process splits athletes into their respective continents and lists them according to their IJF world ranking.

Each continent is then given a set quota of available places for both the men's and women's events with the top athlete - who has not qualified via the direct qualification process - from each weight category given a spot at the Rio 2016 Games.

This system is restricted to one athlete per NOC across all weight categories and does not allow an athlete to qualify for a spot if there is already a competitor from the same country in his or her weight category.

Each continent is also restricted to two athletes per weight category through the continent qualification process.

The host country, Brazil, is also guaranteed a maximum 14 quota places, one quota place in each men and women's event.

Twenty Tripartite Commission invitation places are also made available to eligible NOCs for Rio 2016.

The 2014 European Open in Madrid will be the first tournament to fall within the qualification period, followed by the Havana Grand Prix in Cuba in early June.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]