The results of the drawing of lots for the Beijing 2008 Olympic football competitions were released on Sunday.

The drawing for the women's competition assigned China, Sweden, Argentina and Canada to Group E; Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nigeria, Germany and Brazil will contend in Group F; and Norway, the United States, Japan, New Zealand are to compete in Group G.

In the men's competition, Cote D'Ivoire, Argentina, Australia, and Serbia will compete in Group A; The Netherlands, Nigeria, Japan and the United States in Group B; China, New Zealand, Brazil, and Belgium in Group C; while Republic of Korea, Cameroon, Honduras, and Italy will clash in Group D.

The draw format was made official by the bureau of the organizing committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments, chaired by FIFA Vice-President Dr. Mong Joon Chung.

Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA president, addresses the official draw ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games football tournaments, in Beijing, capital of China, April 20, 2008. (Photo: Xinhua)

The football competitions of the 29th Olympic Games will be held from August 6-23, 2008, in five cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao. The finals for the men's and women's tournaments will be held in Beijing, where three football venues are located: the Workers' Stadium, the Olympic Sports Center Stadium and the National Stadium. The venues outside Beijing are: Shanghai Stadium, Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Shenyang Olympic Sport Center Stadium, and Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Outcome of drawing of lots for Beijing 2008 Olympic football competitions

(BOCOG April 21, 2008)