The women's wheelchair basketball team face a daunting challenge to defend their crown as they face the United States, Germany and Australia, who won gold, silver and bronze respectively at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

The men's team also face a stern test facing a strong USA, an improving German side and a solid, if unspectacular, Japan team.

Women's head coach Garry Peel believes the event in Manchester is very important for his side given that it takes place shortly before the start of the Paralympics.

"Having won this event last year, we're will be looking to emulate it again this time around," said Peel.

"We're under no illusions that this will be a tough ask, what with the participation of the world number one side, USA, but if we want to be the best, we have to beat the best.

"Both Standard Life Great Britain wheelchair basketball teams are full of confidence at the moment, which is vital if you want to be successful, and we want to build on this confidence by putting in a performance to remember at the Manchester Regional Arena."

Men's head coach Murray Treseder is also keen to stress the importance of the competition and insists his team are keen to kick-start their 2012 "summer to remember" with victory in Manchester.

"We are eagerly anticipating the BT Paralympic World Cup this year," he said.

"It's a critical event in our Paralympic build up, as it gives us a unique opportunity to play the best in the world in the lead up to London 2012 in front of home crowds in the UK.

"The team's preparation is going well as we assimilate Jon Pollock (pictured top left) and Terry Bywater, back into the team for the first time since winning the European Championships in Israel last September.

"The team welcomes back Jon Pollock after a 12 month absence and his world class leadership will be a bonus to the excellent performances the team produced in the European Championships as we head to London."


Meanwhile, the BT Paralympic World Cup will see the GB football seven-a-side squad face some of the world's finest teams, including Republic of Ireland, USA and Brazil.

"The BT Paralympic World Cup is the last competitive opportunity prior to London for GB squad to test readiness for the games against quality opposition like Brazil, USA and the Republic of Ireland," said head coach Lyndon Lynch.

"This event is vital to our preparation and is a key indicator for possible success at the games."

Brazil's inclusion mean they return to the city for a second successive year and will be able to familiarise themselves with the training facilities in Manchester, where they will be based for training ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, before the world's attention turns to Rio in 2016.

The BT Paralympic World Cup itself is the largest annual international multi-sport competition in elite disability sport.

BT is entering its fourth year as title sponsor, upholding its strong commitment to disability sport in the UK that stretches back over 20 years.

Manchester has committed for the eighth consecutive year to hosting elite international athletes competing across wheelchair basketball, athletics and football seven-a-side.

In addition, boccia and sitting volleyball will once again be represented, with international matches staged during the competition.

The event schedule will see the Manchester Regional Arena host all events, starting with athletics on May 22, followed by wheelchair basketball and football seven-a-side on May 23 until 26.

The boccia match will be staged on May 24 and the sitting volleyball international match will be held on May 25.

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