At the same time Spain's men will take on Italy at the North Greenwich Arena - better known as the O2 - followed by hosts Great Britain getting underway against Holland in the women's tournament.

The hosts then take on Australia the following day at the North Greenwich Arena, face Brazil in the Basketball Arena the day after, and finish on September 3 against Canada back at the North Greenwich Arena.

GB women's coach Garry Peel said: "Anything can happen at the Paralympics so you've got to concentrate on making sure that you enter each and every match with the best form and attitude possible.

"We've had a fantastic preparation in the build up to the Games and are ready to face any challenge."

In the men's tournament, reigning champions Australia, Spain, US, Italy, Turkey and South Africa contest Group A, with Germany, Canada, Colombia, Poland, Japan and Great Britain in Group B.

The women's competition has Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Brazil and Great Britain pitted together in Group A with China, US, Germany, France and Mexico making up Group B.

The opening day's men's action also features Japan versus Canada and Colombia against Poland before Australia takes on South Africa, all at the Basketball Arena.

Women's Beijing 2008 bronze medallists Australia faces Brazil, also on the opening day of the tournament, at the Basketball Arena.

Meanwhile, the North Greenwich Arena will pit together US and France in the women's draw before Great Britain's men face Germany and Mexico's women take on China.

Hosts Britain, who finished third in the men's tournament in Beijing four years' ago, take on two-time Paralympic gold medallists Canada later in the North Greenwich Arena.


The British men then face Colombia on the Saturday in the same venue, before moving to the Basketball Arena for a clash with Poland on September 2 and finish with a game against Japan the next day back at the North Greenwich Arena.

"There are 11 teams that have the ability to make the semi-final and both pools are going to be tough – there will not be an easy game for anyone," said the British men's head coach Murray Treseder.

"But the Paralympic Games are the pinnacle event for wheelchair basketball, so that's what you'd expect; we – like all the teams – need to bring our best form, but we've had a great build up and are ready for it."

A repeat of the women's final in Beijing 2008 between current European champions Germany and the US, at the Basketball Arena on August 31, will be one of the highlights of the group stages.

Among the highlights of the second day's action is the battle between Britain's women and Australia.

Another group stage game sure to whet the appetite is Australia against US in the men's tournament at North Greenwich Arena on September 2.

The knockout stages begin on September 4, with the women's quarterfinals and the men's last eight games taking place the following day.

The semi-finals of both competitions will be held on September 6, with the women's final taking place the following day and the men's gold medal match on September 8.

All the knockout games will be held at the North Greenwich Arena, and a full fixture guide is available here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2012: London 2012 wheelchair basketball draw takes place at special ceremony