The Opals, Australia’s women’s basketball team have won silver medals at the last three consecutive Games and will be looking to go one better and grab gold in London. For the first time ever, the players are committing to camps in 2011 and 2012 that will see them have time on-court together, a rarity with demanding international careers. Will this give them the edge over their American rivals?
In the men’s competition, the Boomers are a team with increasing depth and are proving to be a growing contender for the London 2012 medal dais. With star players such as Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and Matthew Nielsen in the ranks, the Boomers will be looking to show the world they are a force to be reckoned with in London.
BASKETBALL FORMAT
There are 12 teams in both men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments. The teams are grouped into two pools of six, with an even spread of top seeded teams. The top four teams in each pool following the preliminary games progress to the quarter-finals where the elimination format begins.
Each team consists of 12 players, with five players per team on the court at any one time. Olympic basketball matches consist of two 20-minute halves. If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes of play, a five-minute overtime period is played. Further overtime periods are played until the deadlock is broken.
QUALIFICATION AND SELECTION
Only 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams are eligible to compete in the 2012 Olympic basketball competition. Australia has qualified in both the men's and women's competition by virtue of beating New Zealand in the FIBA Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament in September, 2011.
For all of the Nomination and Selection documentation click here>>>
AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC HISTORY
The Australian women have been winning medals since their bronze medal breakthrough at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. In Sydney, Athens and Beijing the Australian women won silver medals, losing to the United States on all three occasions. Also accustomed to tradition, the Australian men have placed fourth on three occasions in 1988, 1992 and 2000. In Beijing the men’s team reached the quarterfinals, finishing seventh.
To read more about the history of Australia and basketball at the Olympics click here>>>
Jenna O'Hea at an Olympic training camp last monthSuzy Batkovic and Abby Bishop at an Olympic training camp last month
Yesterday,  announced the final Olympic squads for the 2012 Summer Olympics ahead of a farewell series in the Melbourne area this weekend for both the  women's team and the  men's team.

, , , , , , , , , , , and  earned a trip to London as members of the Opals 2012 Summer Olympics team.

On the men's side, , , , , , , , , , , , and  earned a trip to London.

The Opals kick off their Olympic campaign on the first day of the Olympics in a match against Great Britain.  The Boomers start on the second day of Olympic competition with a game against Brazil.


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