Intro:

USA basketball 'Dream Team' expect tough Olympic opener against France.

Script:

After a week of pre-Olympic warm-ups, the USA men's basketball team had a final practice session before opening their gold medal defence against France on Sunday.

The Americans now begin a journey to what they hope will be the country's fourteenth Olympic men's basketball gold medal - and USA forward LeBron James says that the side are eagerly anticipating the challenges the french side will pose.

SOUNDBITE: (English) LeBron James, USA forward (on USA's first game against France)

The USA have never lost to France at an Olympics. A record they'll surely be hoping to continue at London 2012 this summer.