Hope Powell hails Olympic opportunity

Team GB manager Hope Powell believes that her squad have the opportunity to significantly raise the profile of women's football in Britain this summer.

Powell took charge of the England national side in 1998 and has done much to bring the game to a wider audience.

The 45-year-old believes that this summer's Olympic Games will be a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" and a great opportunity for her players to sell the brand of top-level women's football to a wider audience.

She said: "Being the first event of the entire Games could be unprecedented for the women's game in terms of media attention. It's a real opportunity, which we aim to embrace and show the world that women's football is a really good product.

"We are looking to put a really positive message out about the game. I'm hoping it will be the catalyst that the game needs right now. It will raise the profile of the women's game and will hopefully encourage more girls to take up the sport, whatever age they are.

"It's a major tournament that is sure to get a lot of attention. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the athletes involved and we are hoping people will come out and support them."

Great Britain have been drawn alongside New Zealand, Cameroon and Brazil in Group E.