Game Times For Men's And Women's Olympic Preliminary Round Games Announced

FIBA, in close cooperation with the IOC (International Olympic Committee), BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad) and BOB (Beijing Olympic Broadcasting), have announced the preliminary round game schedule with times for the Beijing 2008 Olympic basketball tournaments for men and women that will be played August 9-24 in the new 18,000-seat Wukesong Indoor Stadium.

Geneva, Switzerland (PRWEB) May 28, 2008 -- FIBA, in close cooperation with the IOC (International Olympic Committee), BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad) and BOB (Beijing Olympic Broadcasting), have announced the preliminary round game schedule with times for the Beijing 2008 Olympic basketball tournaments for men and women that will be played August 9-24 in the new 18,000-seat Wukesong Indoor Stadium.

The U.S. Men's Olympic Team will open preliminary play Aug. 10 against host China at 10:15 p.m. (all times listed are Beijing local times which is 12 hours ahead of EDT); then play Angola on Aug. 12 at 8:00 p.m.; on Aug. 14 at 8:00 p.m. the USA will face Qualifier C who will be determined through the July 14-20 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament; 2006 FIBA World Champion Spain on Aug. 16 at 10:15 p.m.; and the USA will close out preliminary play Aug. 18 at 8:00 p.m. against Qualifier B who will be determined through the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The men's Olympic quarterfinals action takes place Aug. 20, semifinals play is slated for Aug. 22, and the men's Olympic finals will be held Aug. 24.

The U.S. Women's Olympic Team opens Aug. 9 at 8:00 p.m. versus Qualifier D who will be determined through the June 9-15 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and next faces host China on Aug. 11 at 8:00 p.m.; Mali on Aug. 13 at 10:15 p.m.; Qualifier E who will be determined through the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Aug. 15 at 8:00 p.m.; and the U.S. finishes off its preliminary play Aug. 17 against New Zealand at 10:15 p.m. The women's Olympic quarterfinals action takes place Aug. 19; semifinals play is slated for Aug. 21; and the women's finals will be held Aug. 23.

The USA men, bronze medalists at the 2004 Olympic Games, have medaled in every Olympics they have competed in (18).The USA men have won an amazing 15 gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals in their 18 Olympic Games appearances (the United States chose not to participate in the 1980 Olympic Games), and has compiled an impressive 114-5 record (.958 winning percentage). When utilizing NBA players, U.S. teams are 29-3 in Olympic action (.906 winning percentage).

The defending Olympic champs, the USA women will be vying for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal. Since women's basketball was officially staged at the 1976 Olympics, the Americans have collected a record five gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal, while compiling a 42-3 (.933) overall record in their seven Olympic appearances (the United States chose not to participate in the 1980 Olympic Games).

About USA Basketball

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

2008 Olympic Men's Basketball Schedule

Preliminary Round Pools

GROUP A GROUP B

Argentina Angola

Australia China

Iran Spain

Lithuania USA

Russia *Qualifier B

*Qualifier A *Qualifier C

*Qualifiers A, B and C for the 2008 Olympics men's basketball competition will be determined through the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men that is scheduled for July 14-20, in Athens, Greece.

Preliminary Round

August 10

9:00 a.m. Russia - Iran

11:15 a.m. Qualifier B - Angola

2:30 p.m. Spain - Qualifier C

4:45 p.m. Lithuania - Argentina

8:00 p.m. Australia - Qualifier A

10:15 p.m. USA - China

August 12

9:00 a.m. Iran - Lithuania

11:15 a.m. Qualifier A - Russia

2:30 p.m. Qualifier C - Qualifier B

4:45 p.m. China - Spain

8:00 p.m. Angola - USA

10:15 p.m. Argentina - Australia

August 14

9:00 a.m. Qualifier B - Spain

11:15 a.m. Australia - Iran

2:30 p.m. Angola - China

4:45 p.m. Lithuania - Russia

8:00 p.m. USA - Qualifier C

10:15 p.m. Argentina - Qualifier A

August 16

9:00 a.m. Qualifier C - Angola

11:15 a.m. Russia - Australia

2:30 p.m. Qualifier A - Lithuania

4:45 p.m. Iran - Argentina

8:00 p.m. China - Qualifier B

10:15 p.m. Spain - USA

August 18

9:00 a.m. Iran - Qualifier A

11:15 a.m. Australia - Lithuania

2:30 p.m. Qualifier C - China

4:45 p.m. Angola - Spain

8:00 p.m. USA - Qualifier B

10:15 p.m. Argentina - Spain

Quarterfinals

August 20

Time TBD Game 65: B2 - A3

Time TBD Game 66: A1 - B4

Time TBD Game 67: A2 - B3

Time TBD Game 68: B1 - A4

The exact game order and time for the four Quarterfinal games will be known by the evening of August 18. The quarterfinals game times are 2:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

Semifinals

August 22

Time TBD Game 71: Winner 65 - Winner 66

Time TBD Game 72: Winner 67 - Game 68

The exact game order and time for the two Semifinal games will be known by the evening of August 20. The semifinals game times are 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Finals

August 24

Bronze Medal: Game 76: Loser 71 - Loser 72

Gold Medal: Game 77: Winner 71 - Winner 72

NOTES: Beijing, China is 12 hours ahead of EDT.

2008 Olympic Women's Basketball Schedule

Preliminary Round Pools

GROUP A GROUP B

Australia China

Russia Mali

South Korea New Zealand

*Qualifier A USA

*Qualifier B *Qualifier D

*Qualifier C *Qualifier E

*Qualifiers A, B, C, D and E for the 2008 Olympics women's basketball competition will be determined through the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women t0068at is scheduled for June 9-15, in Madrid, Spain.

Preliminary Round:

August 9

9:00 a.m. Qualifier C - Australia

11:15 a.m. Mali - New Zealand

2:30 p.m. Qualifier E - China

4:45 p.m. Qualifier a - South Korea

8:00 p.m. USA - Qualifier D

10:15 p.m. Russia - Qualifier B

August 11

9:00 a.m. New Zealand - Qualifier E

11:15 a.m. Qualifier D - Mali

2:30 p.m. South Korea - Russia

4:45 p.m. Qualifier B - Qualifier C

8:00 p.m. China - USA

10:15 p.m. Australia - Qualifier A

August 13

9:00 a.m. Qualifier C - Russia

11:45 a.m. Qualifier E - Qualifier D

2:30 p.m. Qualifier A - Qualifier B

4:45 p.m. New Zealand - China

8:00 p.m. Australia - South Korea

10:15 p.m. Mali - USA

August 15

9:00 a.m. Qualifier D - New Zealand

11:15 a.m. Qualifier B - Australia

2:30 p.m. Russia - Qualifier A

4:45 p.m. China - Mali

8:00 p.m. USA - Qualifier E

10:15 p.m. South Korea - Qualifier C

August 17

9:00 a.m. Qualifier E - Mali

11:15 a.m. Australia - Russia

2:30 p.m. Qualifier B - South Korea

4:45 p.m. Qualifier A - Qualifier C

8:00 p.m. Qualifier D - China

10:15 p.m. New Zealand - USA

Quarterfinals

August 19

Time TBD Game 61: B2 - A3

Time TBD Game 62: A1 - B4

Time TBD Game 63: A2 - B3

Time TBD Game 64: B1 - A4

The game order and time for the four Quarterfinal games will be known by the evening of August 18. The quarterfinals game times are 2:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

Semifinals

August 21

Time TBD Game 69: Winner 61 - Winner 62

Time TBD Game 70: Winner 63 - Game 64

The exact game order and time for the two Semifinal games will be known by the evening of August 20. The semifinals game times are 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Finals

August 24

Bronze Medal: Game 76: Loser 71 - Loser 72

Gold Medal: Game 77: Winner 71 - Winner 72

NOTES: Beijing, China is +12 hours from EDT.

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