Basketball: Deng defends his Olympic absence

Luol Deng, the Sudan-born Chicago Bulls star, was raised in London and is returning to play for Britain in the Olympic basketball test event this week (AP)

Luol Deng, the absent star of Great Britain's team during the opening of the Olympic arena in London – they lost 82-60 to France on Tuesday – has responded to the irritation of GB Basketball officials by reiterating that he was at a long-scheduled youth training camp in Loughborough.

Deng, who plays for the Chicago Bulls, wrote on his Twitter account yesterday: "4 those that keep asking why I'm not at the LND Invitational with team GB its cause I'm at my Bball camp with the kids. I play on saturday."

Great Britain play two games this weekend.