Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (C) posses with Australian women's basketball players after their match agaist Belarussia during women's preliminary round group A of Olympic basketball event at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008.

Lauren Jackson (L) of Australia

World champion Australia thumped Belarus 83-64 on Saturday in Group A to open the women's basketball competition of the Beijing Olympic Games in the preliminary round.