ATHENS, 14 September ¨C Twelve men¡¯s and eight women¡¯s top quality national teams, who have previously qualified from the four zones of the IWBF, will represent their countries in the Athens Olympic Indoor Hall, where the Wheelchair Basketball Paralympic Tournament will be held from the 18th to the 28th of September.

    In Pool ¡°A¡± for Men, the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games gold medallists Canada will have to face the defending European Champions Italy, the 2002 World Championships silver and 2003 European Championships bronze medallists Great Britain, the Asia¨COceania champion Australia and Brazil.

    In Pool ¡°B¡±, the 2002 World Championships gold medallists and 2000 Paralympic Games bronze medallists United States are joined by Sydney silver medallists Netherlands, Afro-Arab Zone champions Iran, and also Japan, Germany and the team from Greece. The hosts lack experience, but they will try to pull out two wins to make the quarterfinals.

    Meanwhile, Pool ¡°A¡± for Women consists of the 2002 World Championships silver medallists United States, and also Sydney Paralympic Games silver medallists Australia, 2003 European Championships silver medallists Netherlands and Great Britain.

    The World and Paralympic defending champion Canada is the most powerful team in Pool ¡°B¡±. The Canadian girls come to Athens propelled by three consecutive gold medals in Paralympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000), and as many in World Championships (1994, 1998, 2002). They are joined by 2000 Paralympic Games bronze medallists Japan, Germany and Mexico.

    Hosts Greece will not participate in the women¡¯s Wheelchair Basketball Paralympic tournament, making plans for Beijing 2008.

    Judging by the incredible atmosphere in the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, where more than 10,000 fans watched the games, it is obvious why Wheelchair Basketball is supposed to be one of the most popular events in Athens.

(www.athens2004.com)