The test event will feature six teams with Australia, China, Croatia, France, Great Britain and Serbia all in action.

The majority of the teams will feature top NBA stars, including Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls, who will lead Team GB in their pursuit of victory on home turf.

This top level line-up will give basketball fans a taste of what to expect next year while London 2012 Director of Sport Debbie Jevans said the event will also give the Olympic organisers the chance to test many parts of its operations including the field of play; results, timing and scoring systems; how teams work together and how people move around venues.

"Having our first test event on Olympic Park makes the Games seem even closer and excitement is building," she said.

"We are looking forward to hosting our first ever tournament in the Basketball Arena and testing our operations which will include transport into Olympic Park as well as the venue operations and of course the sporting field of play."

The tournament will run on five of the six days from August 16 until 21 with Friday (August 19) scheduled to be a rest day.

"This invitational tournament will be a very interesting and competitive one, with six of the best teams in men's basketball," said FIBA secretary general and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Baumann.

"The Olympic Basketball Arena is a wonderful and world-class venue."


Each day will feature three games scheduled for 3.30pm, 6pm and 8.30pm in the Basketball Arena which is one of the largest temporary venues ever used for an Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The venue was the fourth Olympic Park venue completed by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) earlier this year.

It has 12,000 seats with a black and orange design to represent the colours of a basketball while it is 35 metres high and 115 metres long.

During the Games the exterior will act as a canvas for an artistic and innovative lighting design while after London 2012, it will be dismantled to be reused elsewhere at other UK and overseas events.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2011: Basketball Arena becomes fourth Olympic Park venue to reach completion in double quick time
March 2010: Basketball Arena for London 2012 demonstrates nationwide involvement in Games
March 2009: London 2012 Basketball Arena given planning permission
October 2008: Exclusive - London 2012 seeking builder for basketball arena
May 2008: NBA chief joins in call for basketball not to be moved in 2012