Final schedule of Olympic Basketball competition released

(BEIJING, May 28) -- On May 27, the FIBA released the schedule for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Women's and Men's Basketball competition, which will take place at Wukesong Indoor Stadium, August 9-24.

According to FIBA.com, the schedule was setup together with the IOC, BOCOG and Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB). Listed below is the complete schedule. All tip-off times are local time in Beijing, China.

Olympic Basketball Tournament for women (August 9-23, 2008):

Countries already qualified for Beijing 2008 are: Australia (World Champion), China (host), Republic of Korea (Asian Champion), Mali (African Champion), New Zealand (Oceanian runner-up), Russia (European Champion) and USA (Champion of the Americas).

The remaining five women's berths for the Beijing Olympics will be decided in the 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women that will take place in Madrid, Spain, June 9-15, 2008. The tournament involves the following participants: Senegal and Angola (Africa), Cuba, Brazil and Argentina (Americas), Japan and Chinese Taipei (Asia), Spain, Belarus, Latvia and Czech Republic (Europe) and Fiji (Oceania). The draw for this tournament will be held on June 15, 2008 in Madrid.

Composition of groups:

Group A: Australia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Qualifier A, Qualifier B and Qualifier C

Group B: China, Mali, New Zealand, USA, Qualifier D and Qualifier E

Preliminary Round:

August 9, 2008:

Game 1 (9:00): Qualifier C vs. Australia

Game 2 (11:15): Mali vs. New Zealand

Game 3 (14:30): Qualifier E vs. China

Game 4 (16:45): Qualifier A vs. Republic of Korea

Game 5 (20:00): USA vs. Qualifier D

Game 6 (22:15): Russia vs. Qualifier B

August 11, 2008:

Game 13 (9:00): New Zealand vs. Qualifier E

Game 14 (11:15): Qualifier D vs. Mali

Game 15 (14:30): Republic of Korea vs. Russia

Game 16 (16:45): Qualifier B vs. Qualifier C

Game 17 (20:00): China vs. USA

Game 18 (22:15): Australia vs. Qualifier A

August 13, 2008:

Game 25 (9:00): Qualifier C vs. Russia

Game 26 (11:15): Qualifier E vs. Qualifier D

Game 27 (14:30): Qualifier A vs. Qualifier B

Game 28 (16:45): New Zealand vs. China

Game 29 (20:00): Australia vs. Republic of Korea

Game 30 (22:15): Mali vs. USA

August 15, 2008:

Game 37 (9:00): Qualifier D vs. New Zealand

Game 38 (11:15): Qualifier B vs. Australia

Game 39 (14:30): Russia vs. Qualifier A

Game 40 (16:45): China vs. Mali

Game 41 (20:00): USA vs. Qualifier E

Game 42 (22:15): Republic of Korea vs. Qualifier C

August 17, 2008:

Game 49 (9:00): Qualifier E vs. Mali

Game 50 (11:15): Australia vs. Russia

Game 51 (14:30): Qualifier B vs. Republic of Korea

Game 52 (16:45): Qualifier A vs. Qualifier C

Game 53 (20:00): Qualifier D vs. China