(BEIJING, January 14) -- The organizing committee for the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Wheelchair Basketball International Invitational Tournament held its first plenary meeting Monday afternoon at National Indoor Stadium (NIS).

Li Hang, vice-president of the organizing committee, gave an update on the preparations for the tournament, which is to be held January 20-25 at NIS.

Two training bases will serve the athletes: Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium Training Hall 3 and Beijing Language and Culture University Gymnasium. Six nations with will be represented across four men's teams (China, Canada, the Netherlands and Australia) and four women's teams (China, Canada, Germany and Japan), with 95 athletes, 33 officials and 12 staff members participating.

The 24 international technical officials are appointed by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, while the 30 Chinese technical officials are appointed by the National Paralympic Committee of China and the tournament organizers.

In addition, 842 volunteers are to serve the tournament. The volunteers will receive training from Jan. 15 to 16 and begin their posts Jan. 18.