YAO MING’S China national basketball team will take on the mighty United States in the opening round of the Beijing Olympic basketball tournament, organizers said.

China will face the NBA stars Aug. 10 in Group B, which also includes world champion Spain, African title-holder Angola and two qualifiers yet to be named, world governing body FIBA said on its Web site Saturday.

“The interest in China is just remarkable and now we will see China playing the U.S. team on the opening day, so this is going to be something,” FIBA president Bob Elphinston said after Saturday’s draw.

“We are in an absolutely magnificent arena, possibly the best ever for Olympic basketball,” he said from the brand new 18,000 Olympic basketball venue in Beijing.

European champion Russia, defending Olympic gold-medallist Argentina, Lithuania, Australia, Iran and a qualifier make up Group A.

Host China is expected to be led by Houston Rocket center Yao, who is currently recovering from injury, while NBA stars will make up the core of the U.S. and other teams such as Argentina, Russia and Spain.

In the women’s draw, China was bracketed with the United States, New Zealand and Mali in Group B, while South Korea, Australia and Russia make up Group A. Five other qualifiers will be determined in a qualifying tournament in Spain in June.

The Olympic basketball tournament will run from Aug. 9 to 24. The group matches are in a round robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout stage.

After Saturday’s draw, China’s women beat Team U.S.A. 84-81 in a warm-up match. It was the first time a Chinese men’s or women’s team had ever beaten the United States.

(SD-Agencies)