"If Wheelchair Basketball Was Easy It'd Be Called Football!" - GBWBA

If you ever get the opportunity to play wheelchair basketball grab it. Last year a group of us which included former UK Olympians were invited to Loughborough University to a morning of play by Charlie Bethel, the CEO of Great British Wheelchair Basketball (GBWBA). The session was a blast and since then new voices have joined in the singing of the sport's praise!

Last weekend Birmingham hosted the finals of the 2010 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships, the largest Paralympic event to be held prior to London 2012. We were there to catch the days games and they did not disappoint:

The first game of the day was the women's bronze medal match which was fought between Canada and Australia. Australia led comfortably throughout the first half but a very different Canadian team met them in the second and the game finished 59 - 49 to Canada who took the bronze.

The next game of the morning was the men's bronze medal match between European Champs Italy and the USA. Italy made some decent plays but were seriously unlucky with their baskets. The US made some really great plays particularly in the second half and their handling skills were near flawless. USA took the bronze with the final score 71 -42.

The game of the day was the women's gold medal match fought between USA and Germany. Both teams were equally matched and on outstanding form. For 40 minutes they exchanged basket for basket and both teams made some really exciting breaks. This was a truly on the edge of your seat match which the US narrowly won by 55 - 53.

The final, final of the day was fought between France and Australia. Having come only 11th out of 12 in the last worlds and losing three of their opening matches in this worlds France were really not expected to make it this far!

With only a handful of supporters in the crowd cheering them on France found it difficult to find their wind and lost so many free throws and rebound opportunities. The Aussie supporters on the other hand almost filled the stadium and helped them carve a nice 20 point lead in the first half. France gallantly fought back in the second half however the job was too much and the Australians took the gold with the final score at 79 - 69.

For more info on the 2010 games and wheelchair basketball visit here.