The Canadian Women’s Olympic Basketball Team will open the Olympics with a game versus European champions and the second ranked Russian team. The game tips-off at 6:15 a.m. EDT, but coverage begins at 6:00 a.m. EDT on CTV.

When the team hits the court, Teresa Gabriele will be the only member on the team to have done this before, when she played in the 2000 Sydney Games. But with the core of this team being together so long and with two World Championships under their belts, they should be ready to go, once the games begin.

When head coach, Allison McNeill was asked her thoughts about the London Olympics theme she said, “I love the theme in London ‘inspire a generation.’ That is what we are going to do and we are going to share this experience with every coach and athlete in Canada to help grow our sport across the country."

She continued by saying, “We have a theme - live the day. People say the Olympics are every four years but we actually think you have to live every day and win every day for four years. That's what we have done and we are determined to go and play some good basketball.”

Canada will play the hosts, Great Britain next on Monday, July 30 at 3:00 p.m. EDT and will be televised on Sportsnet.

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