Sheffield Attracts GB Basketball Teams

23rd March 2012

The Standard Life GB men's and women's basketball teams will make a stop in Sheffield as part of their training in preparation for London 2012.

The two teams are set to play a series of test matches across the world between May and July as part of the 'Standard Life Game On 2012' series and will arrive in Sheffield on 13 July, when the women's team will play Angola at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. They will also be in action against world number two team Australia on 14 July at the Motorpoint Arena and France on 15 July at Ponds Forge. The men will also be competing on 14 July at the Arena and again on 15 July at Ponds Forge, going up against Portugal in both games. Lorenzo Clark, operations director at Sheffield International Venues (SIV) which operates Ponds Forge and the Arena, said: This series of basketball games, which will play a key role in the teams' preparations for the Olympics, once again highlights the role that Sheffield and SIV are playing in the run up to the 2012 Games. it is also a fantastic opportunity to showcase our world-class facilities, both to the GB team and to the international teams who we will be welcoming to the city for this series of exciting basketball games. The GB women will first come together in May in Surrey for their training camp, before taking to the road for a number of test matches, playing in Croatia, Belgium, Turkey, Prague and China before returning to the UK. Kicking off their 2012 campaign, the men begin with a training camp in Houston, Texas in June and, as well as the UK, their tour of test matches ahead of the Olympic Games will see them visit France, Spain and Belgium. Simon Green, Sheffield City Council's executive director of place, said: Sheffield has well and truly got Olympic fever! We have been working tirelessly to bring teams like this into the city, and we know that by the time the Games come round one in seven GB Olympians will have trained here. I am looking forward to welcoming GB basketball to the city for this vital preparation. Tickets will be available at http://www.arenaticketshop.co.uk/whats-on/british-basketball--ponds-forge/ or by calling the box office on (0114) 256 5567. For more information on the Standard Life GB teams please visit www.gbbasketball.com