Russia names basketball team for London Olympics

 MOSCOW, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Moscow named the players who would participate in the upcoming Olympic Games in London, the Russian Basketball Federation¹ (RFB) said Monday.

Twelve Russian sportsmen are to arrive in London on July 27, the opening day of the Olympics.

That dozen has not been altered since their participation² in the qualifications tournament in Venezuela. Andrei Kirilenko and Timofey Mozgov, the two leading players who have NBA experiences, are selected for the national squad³, said the RFB.

Russian male basketball team has been seeded into the Group B along with China, Brazil, Australia, Spain and host Britain. The Group A comprises Lithuania, Tunis, U.S., France, Nigeria, Argentina.

The Russian squad will play its first game in London against the host on July 29, according to the RBF website. On July 31, they will battle with China.

Last Friday, Russia also confirmed the composition of its female basketball squad which has won bronze medal during Beijing Olympics in 2008.

1 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

2 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

3 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。