The Rio Organizing Committee for the 2016 Paralympic Games announced the schedule for wheelchair basketball. Starting things off for the United States will be the women’s team when they take the court on Sept. 8 at 10 a.m., against France in the Carioca Arena 1. The U.S. Men will follow at 3:15 p.m., against host country Brazil in the Rio Olympic Arena.

 

The U.S. women will be in pool play from Sept. 8-13, while the men’s tournament pool play will be from Sept. 8-14. The women’s quarterfinals are slated for September 13, with medal games on Sept. 16. The men’s quarterfinals will tip on Sept. 14, with the medal games on Sept. 17. The semi-finals for both men and women will be played on Sept. 15.

 

Following the Brazil game, the U.S. Men will face Iran, Great Britain, Germany and Algeria. The women will also see the Netherlands, China and Algeria in pool play.

 

The U.S. Men’s team qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games by winning the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto, Canada. The U.S. men dominated the competition by outscoring their six opponents by 36 points per game and defeating Canada en route to the gold medal.

 

The U.S. Men’s team finished with a bronze medal at the 2012 London Paralympics and look to improve in Rio de Janeiro. The men’s team finished seventh in 2004 and fourth in 2008, following bronze-medal performances in 2000 and 1996.

 

The U.S. women’s team qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games by winning the 2015 Parapan American Games. The U.S. women dominated the Parapan Am competition by outscoring their opponents by 55 points per game and avenged their 2014 World Championships fourth-place finish by defeating Canada for the gold medal in Toronto, Canada.

 

The U.S. Women’s team finished fourth at the 2012 London Paralympics, after claiming the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing and 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.

 

The sport of wheelchair basketball started in the United States in 1945 following World War II. The sport has grown worldwide and was introduced at the Rome 1960 Paralympic Games and today it is nearly participated in 100 countries. The sport is designed for athletes who have physical impairment that prevents running, jumping and pivoting. Men and women play on teams of five players each and the measurements of the court and the height of the baskets are the same as in able-bodied basketball.

 

2016 Rio Paralympic Games
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
September 8-17, 2016

 

Date  Time Men/Women U.S. Opponent   Venue
9/8/16  10A Women  France vs. USA   Carioca Arena 1
9/8/16  3:15P Men  Brazil vs. USA   Rio Olympic Arena

 

9/9/16  9:30A Men  USA vs. Germany  Rio Olympic Arena

 

9/10/16 3:45P Men  USA vs. Islamic Republic of Iran Carioca Arena 1
9/10/16 6:00P Women  USA vs. China   Carioca Arena 1

 

9/11/16 3:45P Women  Netherlands vs. USA  Carioca Arena 1
9/11/16 6:00P Men  Algeria vs. USA   Carioca Arena 1

 

9/12/16 3:45P Men  USA vs. Great Britain  Carioca Arena 1
9/12/16 9:30A Women  USA vs. Algeria   Rio Olympic Arena

 

9/13/16 9:30A Women’s 9-10 Place    Rio Olympic Arena
9/13/16 11:45A Women’s quarter-final    Rio Olympic Arena
9/13/16 3:15P Women’s quarter-final    Rio Olympic Arena
9/13/16 5:30P Women’s quarter-final    Rio Olympic Arena
9/13/16 9:00P Women’s quarter-final    Rio Olympic Arena

 

9/14/16 9:30A Men’s 11-12 place    Rio Olympic Arena
9/14/16 11:45A  Men’s quarter-final    Rio Olympic Arena
9/14/16 3:15P Men’s quarter final    Rio Olympic Arena
9/14/16 5:30P Men’s quarter final    Rio Olympic Arena
9/14/16 9:00P Men’s quarter final    Rio Olympic Arena

 

9/15/16 9:30A Men’s 9-10 place     Rio Olympic Arena
9/15/16 11:45A Women’s semi-final    Rio Olympic Arena
9/15/16 3:15P Women’s semi-final    Rio Olympic Arena
9/15/16 5:30P Men’s semi-final     Rio Olympic Arena
9/15/16 9:00P Men’s semi-final     Rio Olympic Arena

 

9/16/16 9:30A Women’s 7-8 place    Rio Olympic Arena
9/16/16 11:45A Women’s Bronze medal match   Rio Olympic Arena
9/16/16 3:15P Women’s 5-6 place    Rio Olympic Arena
9/16/16 5:30P Women’s Gold medal match   Rio Olympic Arena
9/16/16 7:30P Women’s victory ceremony   Rio Olympic Arena

 

9/17/16 9:30A Men’s 7-8 place     Rio Olympic Arena
9/17/16 11:45A Men’s Bronze medal match   Rio Olympic Arena
9/17/16 3:15P Men’s 5-6 place     Rio Olympic Arena
9/17/16 5:30P Men’s Gold medal match    Rio Olympic Arena
9/17/16 7:30P Men’s victory ceremony    Rio Olympic Arena

 

2016 Rio Paralympic Games Women's pools
Group A: Canada; Germany; Great Britain; Argentina; Brazil
Group B: USA; Netherlands; France; China; Algeria

 

2016 Rio Paralympic Games Men's pools
Group A: Australia; Canada; Turkey; Netherlands; Japan; Spain
Group B: Iran; USA; Great Britain; Germany; Algeria; Brazil