The New Zealand White Sox women's softball team will line up in the Olympic Games regional qualifying series in Shanghai in September.
Softball New Zealand (SNZ) had been waiting for the venue to be announced before deciding before confirming the White Sox's entry after the New Zealanders' disappointing 13th place at the 2018 world championships in Japan.
SNZ chief executive Tony Giles told Stuff in December that New Zealand's participation could hinge on whether the Asia-Oceania qualifying tournament was to be in China or Australia.
But Giles said on Tuesday that the SNZ board had decided to commit, regardless of the venue.
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) confirmed Shanghai as host at an executive meeting in Rome last weekend.
"We will be entering. We owe it to ourselves, the players and the White Sox brand, and to global softball, to participate," Giles said.
Longtime catcher Melanie Gettins is among a group of White Sox players who mave made big financial sacrifices to play international softball.
Giles said many of the White Sox's senior players had "given their heart, soul and mortgages" to the programme and deserved a shot at making the Olympics.
"We are going through a rebuilding phase, but it's important that we still put our hands up.
"The Olympic Games are still the pinnacle of women's softball."
The WBSC set dates and venues for three regional qualifying tournaments, which will determine the four teams to join the United States (winners of the 2018 world championships) and host nation Japan in the six-team tournament at Tokyo, where softball will return to the Olympic Games schedule for the first time since Beijing in 2008.
The Asia-Oceania qualifier has been set down for Shanghai from September 24-29. Six Asian nations will join Australia and New Zealand with the series winner earning an Olympic berth.
Key members of the White Sox softballl team, which will take part in the Olympic Games qualifying tournament.
Giles said SNZ were "bitterly disappointed for Australia", who had bid to host the tournament at Blacktown Stadium in Sydney, venue of the 2000 Olympic Games softball tournament.
Asia-Oceania was "the only confederation in the world that doesn't have the highest-ranked nation [at the 2018 world championships] as hosts," Giles said.
"It would have been more advantageous for the White Sox to be in Sydney, but I do have some understanding of the WBSC decision."
He understood marketing and broadcasting requirements were factors, but was looking forward to hearing more details from WBSC officials "on what Shanghai are offering".
"The bid from Australia was strong, including accommodation support."
The White Sox are likely to have to pay their own way to China. High Performance Sport New Zealand cut its funding to the women's softball team from $150,000 in 2018 to $30,000 in 2019 after the team's below-par showing at the world championship.
Giles said, however, talks could now start with potential funders following the WBSC decision.
The Asia-Oceania qualifiers will be preceded by the Europe-Africa regional tournament in Utrecht, Holland from July 23-29. Eight teams will take part with the winner Tokyo bound.
Two teams will qualify from the Americas group - hosted by Canada at Surrey, British Columbia from August 25 to September 1. Up to 16 teams will enter.
AT A GLANCE
Asia-Oceania nations rankings at the 2018 world women's softball championships
Australia (4), Chinese Taipei (9), China (10), New Zealand (13), Philippines (14).