Spain's women's basketball team began preparations for next month's Olympic Games on Tuesday in the town of San Fernando.

San Fernando is in the south of the country, near to Cadiz and the Spanish men's side also began their preparations there.

Spain coach Evaristo Perez has taken 13 players with him, including point guard Nuria Martinez, who has missed recent international matches because of injury. Martinez will battle it out with Silvia Dominguez for the final place in the squad.

"This is not an exact science. We are going to work with Nuria and also with Silvia, although if we are completely certain Nuria is fully fit, it will be her that goes to Beijing," Perez told El Mundo Deportivo.

The Spanish side will make their Olympic debut on August 9 against the hosts China.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)