The team is now preparing for its next pre-Beijing Paralympic Games tournament – the Women’s International Wheelchair Basketball Friendship Games to be held in Osaka, Japan on February 12, 2008.

“Although it will be at the end of a tiring five-week stretch, the Osaka Friendship Games is still critical to our preparation for the Paralympic Games,” said head coach Tim Frick.

At the Good Luck Beijing tournament, Canada defeated Germany in the final of the Good Luck Beijing tournament Friday January 25, 2008 to win gold. In round-robin play at the Beijing tournament, Canada lost its first game in overtime 65-57 to Germany on January 20, fell 52-42 to a hot Japan on January 21, and then beat host China 54-42 on January 22.

“At this point in the season, we’re doing a lot of teaching and learning activities, so it’s not surprising that it is interfering with our ability to shoot in flow,” said coach Bill Johnson. “We’re getting the opportunities, and as we peak for the Beijing Paralympic Games in September, the goal is automaticity.”

At the Osaka tournament, the women will compete against some of the world’s top-seeded teams, including Australia, Japan and the United States. At the first ever Osaka Friendship Games in 2007, Canada won gold with a 66-41 win over Australia.

“The Osaka tournament gives us a chance to judge our progress in terms of team play. After the Beijing test event, we’ll have a couple of weeks together at Douglas College to work on systems and plays,” said Frick.

Several members of the Canadian team are from British Columbia, including Misty Thomas, MJ Boudreault, Arley McNeney, Elisha Williams, Jessica Desmazes and Nancy Lafleche.

Canada’s women’s national basketball team qualified for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games by winning silver at the 2007 Parapanamerican Games in August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Rio, Canada lost 50-44 to the United States in the final.

Canada, heads into the 2008 Paralympic Games seeded number one. Canada, the reigning world champion, won bronze at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games and gold at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

The Beijing Paralympic Summer Games run from September 6-17, 2008 in China.

January-February Camp 2008 Schedule

Date                             Time                               Activity                              Location

Jan 28/08                    9 am-11:45 am            Practice                          Douglas College Pinetree
Jan 28/08                    2 pm-4 pm                    Practice                          Douglas College Pinetree
Jan 29/08                    9 am-11:30 am            Practice                          Douglas College NewWest
Jan 29/08                    5 pm-7 pm                    Practice                          Collingwood (70 Morven Dr.)
Jan 30/08                    2 pm-4 pm                    Practice                          Douglas NewWest
Jan 30/08                    8 pm-10 pm                  Practice                          Douglas NewWest
Feb 1/08                      1 pm-4 pm                    Practice                          Douglas NewWest
Feb 1/08                      Evening                         Tournament begins     Collingwood School
Feb 2-3/08                                  Tournament at Collingwood School
Feb 5/08                      9:30 am-12:00              Practice                          Douglas NewWest
Feb 5/08                      7 pm-9 pm                     Practice                          Bryne Creek Secondary
Feb 6/08                      2 pm-4 pm                     Practice                          Douglas NewWest
Feb 6/08                      8 pm-10 pm                   Practice                          Douglas NewWest
Feb 8/08                      8:30 am-11am              Practice                          Douglas NewWest
Feb 8/08                      1 pm-4 pm                     Practice                          Douglas NewWest
Feb 10/08                    Time TBD                       Vancouver Airport         Depart for Osaka