The sport is set to be one of the most high-profile of the Olympics as the finals are due to be held in the O2, formerly the Millennium Dome, and, as well as featuring the United States "Dream Team", should also include for the first time since 1948 a British squad led by Chicago Bulls superstar Luol Deng.

 

Sutherland will be responsible for all the planning, organisation and management of the Olympic wheelchair events in the Olympics and Paralympics.

 

The early stages of the tournament will take place in the Olympic Park.

 

Sutherland said: “I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to help showcase basketball and wheelchair basketball at the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

 

"The Games are a terrific chance for basketball in the  UK  to start realising some of its potential and I look forward to contributing to that process – my only regret is that I won’t be playing in the Games themselves."

 

Sutherland, a native of  Edinburgh, has been working in international sport, primarily basketball, for the last 10 years.

 

Having graduated in Law and French from Edinburgh  University, Suthgerland joined the FIBA in  Munich in 1998 and gained considerable experience in both the competitions and media departments before moving to assist in the organisation of the 2002 European Athletics Championships, also in Munich .

 

Rejoining FIBA Europe, Sutherland soon had a key role in the delivery of major events, notably EuroBasket 2005 (the 2005 European Championship for men) in Serbia and Montenegro and EuroBasket Women 2005 in Turkey .

 

As a result, she was invited to join the Spanish Basketball Federation in Madrid as operations director of EuroBasket 2007 which later received the accolade of being FIBA ’s most successfully marketed event to date.

 

Still an active player, Sutherland also captained Scotland and British Universities.

 

She was Scotland’s player of the year in 1998.

 

Her father, Sandy, a well-known Scottish sports journalist and former Scottish shot put champion, is a past chairman of Great Britain Basketball and Basketball Scotland.

 

Sutherland's mother Liz is a former Commonwealth record-holder for 400 hurdles and British international who was voted Scotland's Sportswoman of the Year in 1977

 

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, secretary general and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Baumann said: “FIBA is very pleased with the appointment of Joanna Sutherland as competition manager for basketball.

 

"Her basketball knowledge and experience in working with FIBA , FIBA Europe and our member national federations at both FIBA Continental and World Championships will put her in good standing for this vital and very important position.

 

"We look forward to working with her to make basketball once again one of the top sports at the Olympic Games in London in 2012.”

 

Malcolm Tarkenter, the chairman of the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association, said: “We congratulate Joanna on her appointment and wish her good luck.

 

"We are excited that the London Organising Committee is following the example set in Sydney of the same competition manager being responsible for the delivery of both events.

 

"Joanna’s role is central to the realisation of our goals, not only for our athletes, but for all of our officials and volunteers who will be striving over the next few years to be part of London 2012.”

 

Sutherland's key responsibilities include the overseeing of all aspects of the basketball competition and to be the focal point for liaison with the International Basketball Federation and the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. 

 

She will ensure that the competition is organised in accordance with international federation regulations, the IOC Charter and the Host City Contract. 

 

Sutherland will liaise with other functional areas to ensure the coordinated delivery of support services such as accreditation, venue operations, medical services and volunteers.

 

Sutherland will travel to the Beijing Games to see what lessons can be learned from the basketball and wheelchair basketball events there.

 

She will initially take up her post on a part-time basis, becoming full time towards the end of 2009.

 

Sutherland is the sixth competition manager that London 2012 have announced following archery, badminton, fencing, sailing and shooting.

 

More announcements are expected this week.