Wheelchair Basketball Euros to Tip Off in Israel

Five men’s and three women’s spots for the London 2012 Paralympic Games will be up for grabs when the Wheelchair Basketball European Championships begin on Tuesday (6 September) in Nazareth, Israel.

Both Great Britain’s men’s and women’s teams have automatically qualified for those Games as the host nation, while the rest of the teams will fight it out for the other spots at the Euros, which will take place through 17 September.

On the men’s side, the 12 teams are split into two groups. Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Poland are in Group A, while Israel, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Switzerland and Great Britain make up Group B.

Italy will start as defending champions following its success in 2009, while France will be the favourites following its silver-medal finish at last year’s World Championships.

In the women’s competition, in which all teams compete in one group, defending champions Germany will line up alongside France, Israel, the Netherlands, Turkey, Spain and Great Britain.