KARLOVY VARY (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - This morning's draw has begun the countdown to the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic. The 16-team field was drawn into four groups of 4 teams each.

Here are draw results for the groups for the First Round:

Group A - Ostrava
Canada
Belarus
China
Australia

Group B - Ostrava
Senegal
Greece
USA
France

Group C - Brno
Mali
Korea
Brazil
Spain

Group D - Brno
Japan
Czech Republic
Argentina
Russia


The draw was held at the Grand Hotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary, on Tuesday 24th November 2009 at 11:30AM CET. It was jointly conducted by FIBA and the LOC in the presence of participating team delegations, National Federation members, prominent public figures and members of the international media.

The Championship will be played in the Czech Republic in the cities of Karlovy Vary (Final Round), Ostrava and Brno (First and Second Rounds) between 23rd September and 3rd October 2010.

Competition Format

The First Round will see a total of 24 games, in which each team faces the other three teams in its respective group. The three top placed teams will advance to the Eighth Final Round, consisting of 2 groups of 6 teams. The top 4 teams of these two groups will advance to the Quarter Final Round, at which point the Championship continues in a standard knock out format.

Quick Facts about the FIBA World Championship for Women

Held every 4 years, the FIBA World Championship for Women determines the world's top nation in women's basketball. The first edition was played in 1953 in Santiago de Chile. The 2010 tournament will be the Championship's sixteenth version.
First time winners Australia are the reigning champions. Brazil, who also have one gold medal are the only other nation besides the USA (7 gold medals) and the Soviet Union (6 gold medals) to have won the Championship.
The 2010 FIBA World Champion will automatically qualify for the 2012 Olympic Basketball Tournament for Women in London.
For more information visit czechrepublic2010.fiba.com.