Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

[alber_ton]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Strengthening the weakest links

If a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the chain of basketball around the world is growing more resilient every day as more athletes gravitate to the game, coaching progresses, and the level of play continues to improve.

This has been most evident via the shifting balance in the Olympic Games.

The USA Olympic Men’s Team dominated up to 1988 – yeah, I’m still holding a grudge about that 1972 thing where the refs gave the Russians more chances than a birthday boy at a piñata – when the Soviets soundly whipped the Yanks for real.

That ushered in, or should I say ushered out, the pretense of amateurism with the assault of the Dream Team in 1992. Athens proved that wasn’t invincible. London should be interesting.

Balance on the Paralympic side while improving is still much further behind on the growth curve.

This was quite evident at the Parapan American Games held last November in Guadalajara, Mexico where the gap between the top and bottom wheelchair basketball teams was vast. There were games with differentials of 50, 60, even 70 plus points.

Games like that are never fun for either team. But they have to be played because if they’re not, the gaps will never close.

If basketball is a niche sport for standing players, in competition against football, volleyball, baseball, and other games for athletes, imagine the problem for wheelchair basketball. Perhaps the biggest reason for the talent gap is the much smaller player pools to begin with in already small countries when it comes to athletes with a disability. The disparity for the women is even greater when it comes to disability sports.

In the Parapan Games, the minnows were the men and women of Guatemala and El Salvador and the women of Argentina and Peru. To put it in football terms, these teams are the Faroe Islands. No team from South or Central America has medaled in the Paralympic Games or World Championships.

The American men and women were dominant as expected, both winning gold. Canada, the other tower of power from the north was less than expected. The women won silver, no surprise there, but the men settled for bronze after losing to surprise silver medalists Colombia in the semis. That’s a big deal as it put the South American team in the Paralympic Games for the first time.

Leading Colombia were Nelson Jaime Sanz who averaged 16.5 points and 6ft 7in (2.01m) Rodney Hawkins, a Dwight Howard doppelganger who’s been playing in the United States for the Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks. He was the only player to average a double-double with 13.2 points and 12.5 rebounds.

Colombia showed that teamwork built around a couple of standout players can have results. That’s an incentive to some of the women’s teams who are now developing some star players. The leading scorer on the women’s side was Mexico’s Floralia Estrada. Three of the top 10 scorers came from Brazil. Another to watch will be Guatemala’s Alva Yovadina Puac who averaged 13 points and 11.8 rebounds.

Cheers to the Guatemalas and El Salvadors of the world who step out onto the courts knowing that that they are going to get pasted but also understanding that what doesn’t kill them will only make them stronger.

The moral of this story though is that things can change.

When my sister played high school basketball at a relatively new school, I remember one game where they gave up close to a hundred points, two of which they scored themselves by mistake. That same school has now become a girls’ basketball powerhouse with numerous state championships.

And about that Faroe Islands comparison, there’s hope there as well. On any given day. That’s why we play the games.

In a Euro qualifier one day the Faroe Islanders stepped up and beat Austria. Colombia found their day against Canada.

Who will find theirs in London?
 
Perhaps Turkey. Like Colombia, Turkey’s men will make their inaugural Paralympics this summer and they are feeling good about it. If you believe the ongoing gold medal poll on the IWBF website, the Turks are favored to win by 32% of voters so far.




On my way out the door here, I'd like to give a shout out to German club RSV Lahn-Dill who bested Turkish side Galatasaray on their home turf to win their fifth Champions Cup, which ties the record set by the Dutch team BC Verkerk which won five times in the 1990s.  

RSV was led by a couple of North American players who will face off in London, playmaker Steve Serio of the USA and Canada’s big man Joey Johnson. It completed a triple for the team that had already captured the German league and cup titles. You can read more about it here.

Steve Goldberg from FIBA

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Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Reaction to men's draw

There isn't much pressure on a team that's making an Olympic bow like Tunisia.

The national team finished top of the podium at last year's Afrobasket, but remembering how they finished last the 24-team FIBA World Championship in 2010, expectations are tempered.

Maybe that's why coach Adel Tlatli sounded excited when told that his side would face the United States, the country that beat the Tunisians 92-57 the Preliminary Round of the World Championship.

Also in Group A, the Tunisians will also go up against Argentina and France, and the top two sides that come out of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela.

In Group B are Spain, China, Australia, Great Britain and Brazil, along with the third team to come out of the OQT.

When contacted by FIBA.com, Tlatli said: "Are we playing them [USA] again?"

"Well, it is always an honor face such a big team. What else can I say?

"They are the best team in world."

And it won't be any easier against two of the other known opponents.

"We have never played Argentina before," Tlatli said.

"They had invited us to play a friendly tournament with Brazil, but we opted to play the Stankovic Cup.

"With all their NBA players in the team they become very, very hard to play.

"Prior to the 2010 World Championship we played France and lost by 27 points.

"I don't know, perhaps things may have improved for our side, we'll see how we play this time.

"We know they are a good team."

France coach Vincent Collet had wanted to face the Americans.

"Playing the US in (the Preliminary Round) was desirable," Collet said, "so we can avoid them in the Quarter-Finals.

"We knew the draw would be complicated.

"The objective is to be as efficient as possible in the first round to qualify as best we can, but especially to qualify."

Collet says France fans shouldn't fret, however, if they have a hard time in Group A but still progress.

"Let's remember," he said, "that in 2000 France had to suffer to get out of the group but then we got to the Final."

The United States will be the favorites going into the Games.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski has steered the team to gold medals in Beijing and Turkey.

The Americans haven't lost a game in international competition since their 101-95 defeat to Greece in the Semi-Finals of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

"It appears that our Group, Group A, is going to be extremely competitive," Krzyzewski said.

"It's a tough draw with a former Olympic champion in Argentina.

"France is another powerful team, a veteran team that is extremely talented.

"Tunisia continues to improve, and then our group will add the top two teams from the FIBA World Qualifying Tournament."

Krzyzewski led the Americans to a perfect 8-0 mark in Beijing four years ago.

Jerry Colangelo, the USA Basketball chairman and managing director of the men's national team, added: "Only 12 countries compete in the Olympics and you've got to get through your pool as one of the top four teams in order to advance to the medal round.

"So the luck of the draw is what it is and as we have done in every competition since I took over the national team program in 2005, we're taking nothing for granted.

"We have great respect for each opponent and we look forward to competing against each and every team."

Great Britain will have a talented team.

Detroit Pistons guard Ben Gordon is in the squad this season along with Luol Deng and a host of other great players.




"There is no doubt this is a tough group," Gordon said of Group B.

"Now that we know who we are playing the players and coaches as well as all of our fans can sense the Olympics are just around the corner.

"I can't wait to get started."

FIBA

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Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Olympic draw sets wheels in motion

The fun has already started with the 2012 Olympic basketball tournaments.

At the draw in Brazil on Monday, mouthwatering clashes in the Preliminary Round were assured.

The star-laden sides of the United States, France and Argentina are set to meet each other in a Group A that also includes African champions Tunisia and two teams that come out of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (QOT).

In Group B with hosts Great Britain are heavyweights Spain, as well as Australia, Brazil, China and the other side to emerge from the OQT in Caracas, Venezuela.

The fans lucky enough to have tickets are going to watch the greatest players in the sport.

So which teams had a favorable draw and which teams did not?

There is no sure way of knowing.

Final squad selections have yet to be made, and some teams may or may not be in a good rhythm when the Games get underway.

In 2008, Yao Ming was battling back from a serious injury and wasn’t in 100% game shape when he and the Chinese took on the Americans in their opener.

There is the major issue of which sides will come out of the 12-team OQT.

In addition to OQT hosts Venezuela will be the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Russia, the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Lithuania, Greece, New Zealand, Angola, Nigeria, Korea and Jordan.

The three teams that do make it to London will have some form, yet the exertions in South America could catch up with the players by the time they reach Europe.

Favorites no matter what

In general, most experts will pick the United States to finish top of Group A and go undefeated in London.

That will be the case no matter which players show up for coach Mike Krzyzewski, the man who led the Americans to gold at the Beijing Games, and the FIBA World Championship in Turkey two years ago.

The USA haven’t lost in international competition since the Semi-Finals of the 2006 World Championship in Japan when Greece upset them, 101-95.

Even with the NBA’s best defensive player, 2008 Olympic gold medalist Dwight Howard of Orlando, and the reigning NBA MVP and 2010 World Champion Derrick Rose of Chicago, having been lost to injuries in the past couple of weeks, the Americans will be the team to beat.

Just four times in the 17 Olympic basketball tournaments dating back to the 1936 Games in Berlin have the United States not captured the gold medal.

Krzyzewski will be hoping he has a very strong squad that includes Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Argentina v France

There may be a sense of relief for France coach Vincent Collet and Argentina boss Julio Lamas because if their sides progress to the Quarter-Finals from Group A, they are assured of avoiding the Americans (should the USA finish first).

The side that finishes second to the United States in the Preliminary Round group will know that another meeting with the Americans wouldn’t happen until the Final.

If the United States beat France on the opening day, the likely scenario is that Collet’s team will need to win its remaining four games to finish runners-up in Group A.

The second day of the men’s tournament (31 July) is definitely one to mark on the calendar because Argentina will meet France in a contest that could very well determine second place in the pool.

The plot thickens when you consider France duo Tony Parker and Boris Diaw will take on their San Antonio Spurs teammate, Manu Ginobili of Argentina.

A second-place finish in Group A will be seen as a must for both Argentina and France, sides with medal aspirations.

Spain Reign

There will be some intriguing games in Group B, too, but Spain are a good bet to finish top with a perfect 5-0 record.

Injured point guard Ricky Rubio can’t help, but coach Sergio Scariolo still has Pau Gasol, EuroBasket 2011 MVP Juan Carlos Navarro and a host of other talents.

The priority for Spain will be to win Group B to give them their best chance of avoiding their nemesis, the USA, until the title game.

If the two-time defending champions of Europe are to have some difficulty in Group B, it might come against Brazil, a side that is back in the Olympics for the first time since 1996.

While Spain only lost to the USA in a tight gold-medal game in 2008, 118-107, Brazil nearly stunned Krzyzewski’s team in the Preliminary Round of the 2010 World Championship but lost, 70-68.

If a fourth-place finish is likely to ensure a Quarter-Final against the Americans, a fate that befell the Aussies in 2008, it’s imperative for teams with medal aspirations to at least finish among the top three in Group B.

Australia will have to hit the ground running. They open against Brazil and go up against Spain next.

Great Britain do not have experience at this level but with a home crowd behind them and Luol Deng, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Ben Gordon and Joel Freeland available for coach Chris Finch, the Brits can dream of a place in the Quarters.

The unpredictability factor allows for anything to happen, so a first-place finish for Spain could end up being exactly what they don’t need.




In 2004, Gasol was the leading scorer at the Athens Games as the Spanish went undefeated in the Preliminary Round.

An out-of-sync USA advanced to the Quarters as the fourth-place team from their group, though, and got a team record 31 points from Stephon Marbury and beat Spain, 102-94. The United States then fell to Argentina in the semis, and the South Americans defeated Italy in the gold-medal game.

From FIBA

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Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Draw results for the London 2012 Olympic Basketball Tournaments

The draw for the Olympic Basketball Tournaments for Men and Women at this summer’s London Games was held on Monday.

The qualified teams for both the Men and Women’s tournaments were divided into two groups of six teams each.

The two Olympic Basketball Tournaments will then see teams play the five other teams in their respective groups during the Preliminary Round.

The top four classified teams from each group will then move on to the Quarter-Finals of a standard knock-out tournament.

The Olympic Basketball Tournaments will take place from 28 July until 12 August at the Olympic Basketball Arena and the North Greenwich Arena.

The results of the draw are:

Men’s Olympic Basketball Tournament

Group A: Argentina, France, Tunisia, USA, OQT 1, OQT 2

Group B: Australia, Brazil, China, Great Britain, Spain, OQT 3

So far nine men’s national teams (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Great Britain, Spain, Tunisia and USA) have already qualified.

The last three teams will qualify via the 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Men taking place in Caracas, Venezuela, 2-8 July. The OQT (Men) teams are: Angola, Dominican Republic, FYROM, Greece, Jordan, Korea, Lithuania, New Zealand, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Russia and hosts Venezuela.

Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament

Group A: Angola, China, USA, OQT 1, OQT 2, OQT 4

Group B: Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Russia, OQT 3, OQT 5

To date, seven women’s national teams (Angola, Australia, Brazil, China, Great Britain, Russia and USA) have already qualified.
The last five teams will secure their places via the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Women in Ankara, Turkey, 25 June - 01 July. The OQT (Women) teams are: Argentina, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Korea, Mali, Mozambique, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and hosts Turkey.




Following the draw, FIBA Secretary General and IOC Member Patrick Baumann said: "For every major Championship, the draw is a major milestone. Players begin picturing themselves on the court and thinking about match-ups. Fans start imagining the atmosphere...

"The 2008 Men's Final between the USA and Spain was one of the greatest Olympic moments. It showed the huge strides international basketball had made in becoming more and more competitive. I expect this year's Olympic Basketball Tournaments will be a great and memorable spectacle for all."

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[Coach_P]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

A different time

We live in a world that seems to go very fast, a world in which winning and earning big money often seems be to the only thing that matters.
 
We have luxuries in 2012 that people midway through the 20th century, when the last London Games were staged, could only dream about.
 
For a lot of us, life is good.
 
When the Olympics come around every four years, we're able to see what hard work and determination can do.
 
We see athletes that have trained all their lives for a chance to compete at a Summer Games.
 
Their goals are realized when they walk into the Olympic stadium for the Opening Ceremony.
 
There is a lot of good about this huge international event.
 
Barriers are broken down as athletes in the Olympic Village get to rub shoulders with sports men and women from other countries.
 
The Olympics is about history and tradition.
 
All of us have a favorite Olympic moment.
 
I remember fondly when an exhausted swimmer Mark Spitz won his seventh gold medal in 1972 in Munich, and 24 years later when "The Man With The Golden Shoes" Michael Johnson captured gold in both the 200m and 400m in Atlanta.
 
Olympic history also tells us that 68 years ago, London was a very different place.
 
In those days, there weren't as many tourists from all corners of Europe going to museums, visiting the city's pubs, taking a stroll down streets like the Old Brompton Road or having picnics in Hyde Park.
 
In 1948, times were hard.
 
It was three years after the end of World War II.
 
There was the rationing of food, and fuel.
 
Lionel Price, 85, experienced London then.
 
Price, who had started playing basketball a couple of years before, was a member of the Great Britain team.
 
London, he says, was tough in those days.
 
"Unless you lived through it, you have no idea how depressing London looked then," said Price, the last surviving member of the British basketball team at the '48 Olympics.
 
Price has been making headlines because he's going to be among those who carry the Olympic Torch while it's en route to the Opening Ceremony.
 
"Huge gaps in buildings everywhere, everything rationed," he said of 1948 London.
 
"This was a country that had been through six years of war, six years of hardship."
 
If the British media will be in overload mode when it comes to Olympic reporting this summer, the same couldn't have been said about the Games in Price's time.
 
"Newspapers had about a dozen pages and there was comparatively little coverage of the Olympics," he said to the Independent.
 
"They didn't stop the rationing for the Olympics, although the Americans flew in their own food because so much was unobtainable."
 
Price hasn't thought twice about taking part in the torch run, even though he has had a heart bypass and hernia operations.
 
He said: "This time they have me down as a torch-bearer, although with the letter you get it does say: 'If you have difficulty carrying the torch for 300 meters, wheelchairs are available'."
 
Price didn't win a game as a member of the British team in 1948 but that never mattered to him.



 
He said: "It was important we took part; we had been through the war and we had survived.
 
"We took part and no-one can take that away from us and I'll do it again.
 
"That feels pretty special."

Jeff Taylor from FIBA

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Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

OLYMPICS - Basketball stars odds-on to carry nations' flags in London

Leading international basketball players are among the most celebrated athletes in the world.

It doesn’t matter where they’re from, or whey they compete as professionals.

Hoops stars have always be among the most famous and adored sportsmen and sportswomen.

There was no other conclusion to be drawn at the 2008 Olympics when five basketball players were selected to carry the flags for their nation’s Olympic squads.

Andrei Kirilenko, fresh off his EuroBasket 2007 MVP performance, led the Russian athletes into the Olympic stadium in China for the Opening Ceremony and so did Lithuania’s 2003 MVP Sarunas Jasikevicius.

Dirk Nowitzki, the EuroBasket 2005 MVP and former NBA MVP, was all smiles and at the front of the German parade in the Bird's Nest and Manu Ginobili was bestowed the honor for Argentina.

There was applause for Yao Ming, the native son who carried the flag for China’s large contingent of athletes.

It wasn’t the first time for Yao, because the mega-star had done the same thing four years earlier in Athens and later led China to an upset of Serbia and Montenegro to reach the Quarter-Finals in Greece.

The sight of Yao carrying the flag in China was evening more meaningful because it was recognition for a person who had done so much to put his country in a good light in the United States where the giant center lived and played for the Houston Rockets.

It was a moment he’ll never forget.

"I'm afraid I have to wear earplugs,” he said at the time of the noise that was going to greet him.

Maybe Lijie Miao, the leading scorer of the last Olympic women’s tournament when China reached the Semi-Finals, will have the honor this time?

Beijing was not the first time a host nation gave the honor to a basketball player because Australia decided in 2000 to put the flag in the hands of Andrew Gaze.

Gaze had been moved by the announcement, which was made a few days before the Sydney Games.

All of the country’s athletes were gathered to find out who would lead them into the stadium, and Gaze’s name was called.

"This is a very, very humbling experience," he said.

With all of this in mind, one can only wonder if a basketball player will carry a flag into the Olympic Stadium in London for the Opening Ceremony.

There are no shortage of candidates.

Tony Parker has been a shining light for French basketball the past decade, winning NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs and playing in All-Star Games.

Parker has been a regular in the French side, too, because there is no greater feeling for him than to reunite with his friends in the summer and wear the national team shirt.

The emotion he showed immediately after qualifying for the Olympics for the first time, something France did by reaching the EuroBasket 2011 Final, spoke volumes about his mindset and his dreams.

A couple of Spaniards, Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro, have accomplished many, many things in international basketball, Spain and the United States.

They have won gold medals at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, and EuroBaskets 2009 and 2011, reached the Final of 2008 Olympics.

Gasol was the leading scorer at the 2004 Athens Games as Spain went unbeaten but then slipped up to the United States in the Quarter-Finals.

The 2006 World Championship MVP made his Olympic bow in Greece, while Navarro has already appeared in three, including Sydney when Spain were about to blossom into one of the leading sides in the world.

Gasol was also the MVP of EuroBasket 2009, while Navarro claimed that honor last year in Lithuania.

Like Parker, Gasol has captured NBA titles and played in All-Star Games.

Navarro has spent all but one year with Barcelona, helping them retain their status as a leading club side in Europe.

If it were to happen, it would be a first for Spain.

A basketball player hasn’t carried the flag for Spain, though, at the Opening Ceremony before.

For Argentina, Luis Scola could follow in the footsteps of Ginobili in serving as the flag-bearer.

There has not been a more committed or accomplished player in the international game than Scola, a man who has never said no to putting on the Argentina shirt.

He reached the Final of the 2002 FIBA World Championship and clinched gold with Ginobili in Athens.

Scola has been the MVP of FIBA Americas Championships, made all-tournament sides at World Championships and led these great events in scoring.

Similarly, both Tiago Splitter and Marcelo Huertas would be worthy of the honor for Brazil.

Just consider what Brazil legend Oscar Schmidt, the leading scorer at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympics, had to say about both.

“They are my two favorite players,” he said.

“I love those two. Marcelo became the leader. We didn't have a leader for many years and Marcelo took that spot.

“Tiago is a great guy that any father wants as a son.”

Marcelo Machado has also been a player that is passionate about the national team and if he makes the squad, which most people expect, the flag could be put in the Flamengo star’s hands.

“I love the way that Marcelinho Machado plays, so I hope that he can come to the Olympics,” Oscar said.

The last Brazilian basketball player to serve as the nation's flag-bearer was Luis Claudio Menon at the 1972 Munich Games.

The country does have a tradition of letting basketball players carry the flag because Marques Wlamir did it in 1964 and Mário Jorge da Fonseca Hermes 12 years before that.

The United States men and women have dominated the Olympic Games over the years.

One wonders if two-time Olympians Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade might be presented with the chance, or possibly Kobe Bryant – arguably the most popular athlete at the 2008 Summer Games.

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi certainly have a lot of fans in the United States and around the world for all they have accomplished in a USA shirt and with their different club sides.

The only basketball player to carry the flag for the United States was Dawn Staley in 2004.

As good as she was on the court, Staley had made her mark off it and that contributed to the decision to give her the honor.

She had set up the Dawn Staley Foundation, and the after-school project the foundation runs for kids from her old neighborhood in Philadelphia.

"I don't think [they picked me] for anything I've done on a basketball court," she said.

"I think it was for helping others achieve their goals and dreams."




Before the Opening Ceremony in Greece, Staley said: "It is bigger than me carrying the flag.

"I will carry the hopes and dreams of a lot of little boys and girls who feel their situation is bleak."

There are plenty of possibilities.

In terms of heroes, there are none bigger in Tunisia than center Salah Mejri, who led the country to Afrobasket 2011 gold last year and was named MVP of the tournament.

That result booked a first-ever appearance for Tunisia in the Olympics, so Mejri or perhaps one of his teammates will have the honor of bearing the flag.

from FIBA

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Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

3x3 - Singapore organiser says: "3x3 is a great opportunity"

Esther Quek, Managing Director of Ash Media Asia has organised over 50 3x3 events in Singapore over the past six years.

"3x3 is a great equaliser for the game today, putting everyone on the same platform with equivalent opportunities to perform and excel," she told fiba.com.

Next month on Saturday 10 March, a tournament named Street Gala will take place at the Big Splash Playground in the East Coast Park region.

"Singapore is working towards building 3x3 basketball and this is a great opportunity to move onward" added Quek.

"By excluding the complexities of the usual full-court play and at the same time including more space for the individual skills to be put on display, it allows basketball enthusiasts of all ages, skills levels and motivations to come together and enjoy the game."

Ash Media Asia is using this event as a test phase, applying the official FIBA rules for 2012. Via this tournament the Singapore Basketball Federation will take a closer look at officially endorsing similar events in the future.




The event is expected to have 100 teams comprised of five age categories for both boys and girls.

Street Gala participants are looking forward to showcasing their talent and with more of such events planned for 2012, no doubt 3x3 will continue to soar in the Lion City.


FIBA

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Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Draw results for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament

FIBA on Tuesday concluded its visit to Venezuela with the draw for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, to be held in Caracas from 2-8 July 2012.

During a colourful ceremony, attended by a large number of officials and dignitaries, the twelve teams, who will be playing for the last three remaining places in the Olympic Basketball Tournament, were divided into four groups of three teams.


Group A: Greece, Jordan, Puerto Rico

Group B: Lithuania, Nigeria, Venezuela

Group C: Dominican Republic, Korea, Russia

Group D: Angola, F.Y.R. of Macedonia, New Zealand

The group stages will see the 12 teams play the two other teams in their respective groups in a standard round robin format (12 games in total). The top two teams in each group progress to the Quarter-Finals as follows:

A1 v B2
B1 v A2
C1 v D2
D1 v C2

The four winning quarterfinalists qualify for the Semi-Finals:

Winner [A1 v B2] v Winner [C1 v D2]
Winner [B1 v A2] v Winner [D1 v C2]

The two winning semifinalists automatically qualify for London 2012, while the two losing semifinalists face-off for 12th and final Olympic place.

FIBA meets Venezuela’s Ministry for Sport

On Monday, FIBA’s President Yvan Mainini and Secretary General Patrick Baumann visited the giant Polidero de Caracas arena, which is to undergo major refurbishments, before meeting with Venezuela’s Minister for Sport Héctor Rodríguez Castro to discuss the upcoming tournament, and the state of preparations.

Also present were FIBA Américas President Horacio Muratore, Deputy Minister of Sport Performance Yuri Quiñones and Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB) President Carmelo Cortez.

Following the meeting, Patrick Baumann said: “It was a great opportunity for us to meet with Mr Rodriguez and the Venezuelan Basketball Federation. A tournament like this requires a lot of preparation, and although there remains a lot of work to be done both for the tournament and for the renovation of the venue, we received all the necessary assurances from the government and the organisers that all targets and deadlines would be met.”

“The Minister also reiterated the government's long-term support for our sport, which is one of the most popular in the country and we have therefore no doubts that the Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be a great event,” he concluded.

About the FIBA and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament

The Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) was first introduced in 1960. It was played according to a variety of formats – both worldwide and for Europe/the Americas – until it was discontinued after 1992.

It was reintroduced in 2008, and took place in Athens, Greece and Madrid, Spain for the men and women respectively. Croatia, Germany and Greece were the three final men’s teams to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, while Belarus, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Spain and Latvia took the five women’s spots on offer.




For further information about Olympic Basketball visit london2012.fiba.com, or our social networks facebook.com/fiba, twitter.com/fiba and youtube.com/fiba.

FIBA (fiba.com) – the world governing body for basketball – is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

The Jordanian man of the hour is raring to go!

He was the man who gave Jordan their first moment of glory in international basketball. Two years later, when Jordan went even higher in rankings, and obviously louder in their celebration, he was however left to celebrate it only away from the scene of action.

Ayman Idais became an instant hero in Jordan, when he fired in six three-pointers in a game-haul of 20 points to lead Jordan to victory against West Asian neighbors and the more fancied Lebanon, in the bronze medal game of the 25th FIBA Asia Championship at Tianjin in 2009.

That triumph gave Jordan their first ever FIBA Asia Championship medal and put the WABA team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Two years later, at the 26th FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan last summer, when Jordan were scripting history again, this time going all the way to the gold medal game before losing to China, Idais was left back in Amman with an injured knee.

“I would have given my life to help Jordan win that game. I was jumping in my chair for every shot,” said Idais, recalling his moments of agony watching Jordan lose the gold medal game by a whisker.

“It was very frustrating that I could do nothing about it. I almost broke the television.

“Those were the worst moments in my basketball life. Having to watch your team lose so close, and yet to realise you are in a completely helpless situation to do anything about it is very frustrating for a basketball player. I couldn’t sleep for many nights after that.”

Now, back in action after recovering from a surgery to his knee, Idais is all set to spearhead Jordan come July in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Venezuela.

Jordan’s defeat in the Wuhan gold medal game, in a manner of speaking spurred Idais to work harder on his return to action.

“I realised I have a responsibility to help the team. I realised that the only thing that is stopping me from helping the team is my own fitness. So I put all plans of recovery on a fast track,” he explained.

Back in action, Idais recently averaged 18.5 points and 14.2 rebounds per game in four outings in leading Al Riyadi Aramex Amman to the quarter-finals of the WABA League.

“I have never seen him so focused and dedicated in practice. He is the hardest working player in our midst,” admired Jordanian expert Fadi Sabbah, at the helm of Aramex.

“His presence is a morale booster both on the court and off it,” said team-mate Ali Zaghab, who lined out for Jordan last summer.

“(With Ayman) I think we would have won (against China in Wuhan)."

Idais’ response to those two admirers was in line with the 2.05m center’s attitude these days.

“What’s the use of all the experience if I cannot help the team,” he said.

“I know the team needs me. And I am a lot more responsible in delivering what the team needs. I have realised I can make a contribution only by playing with responsibility.

“Of course we are very optimistic,” Idais said of Jordan’s chances in Venezuela, where Jordan aim to clinch one of three tickets available to the 2012 London Olympics.

“Who gave us a chance in Tianjin or Wuhan? We have always started as underdogs. It suits us fine for the rivals to underestimate us,” Idais pointed out.




Of course, Lebanon in 2009 and Iran in 2011 will vouch for the dangers of taking Jordan lightly.

And in Venezuela too, the others will take Jordan lightly only at their own peril.

Idais might just be the crucial link Tab Baldwin missed in Wuhan.

So long…

S Mageshwaran from FIBA Asia

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[GB_2014]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

GB granted automatic Olympic spots,
2014 FIBA World Champs Women go to Turkey

Great Britain’s Men’s and Women’s national teams will compete in the Olympic Basketball Tournament at the 2012 London Games after FIBA granted them automatic places at the Central Board on Sunday.

The other major decision on the agenda saw Turkey awarded the next FIBA World Championship for Women, the biggest international women’s basketball tournament, to be held in 2014.

FIBA recognised that Great Britain had met the requirements set out for them – proving their competitiveness on the court with both senior teams qualifying for this summer’s EuroBasket tournaments, while also providing a solid legacy plan for the sport in the country beyond the Games of the XXX Olympiad.

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The Central Board voted 17-3 in favour of Great Britain taking their place in the field of basketball teams at next year’s Olympics, but re-iterated the need for British Basketball and the home nations' (England, Scotland and Wales) federations to work towards proving their commitment to grow the game by figuring out the best governance model going forward.

“The Central Board took a vote on the following proposal: yes, both men’s and women’s teams should play at the Olympic Games, but by 30th June 2012 British Basketball and the home nations must figure out the best way for the future governance of the sport," said FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann.

“They have until that date to decide what governance they want to go forward with after the Olympic Games end.”

Meanwhile, Turkey will host the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women after getting the nod over Australia for the honour.




“We had two outstanding bids, with both countries doing an amazing job of giving the board very good reasons to believe they were very capable of hosting the event and having it be a great success,” said Baumann.

“The quality of the two bids is testament to the growth of women’s basketball.”

Turkey hosted last summer’s FIBA World Championship for Men.

A road map for the development of FIBA33 – the International Basketball Federation’s sanctioned format of 3on3 – was agreed upon.

FIBA is working to develop 3on3 basketball so that it is played in top-level competitions, with players rewarded for their participation through the creation of an innovative individual ranking system.




The ultimate goal is to see this format of basketball receive Olympic status one day and, to that end, FIBA looks to showcase it as early as 2016.

Lithuania and the Netherlands were selected as hosts of the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championships for Men and Women respectively.

FIBA

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[CARrillon]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Olympics D-Day looms for British Basketball
FIBA prepares to take decision on Team GB participation in London 2012

FIBA, the world governing body of basketball, said today that the decision on whether to allow Great Britain teams (men and women) to play in the London Olympics would be “the most important in the history of the game in the UK.”

Delegates from FIBA’s Central Board will make their ruling in Lyon next Sunday (13th March) after considering submissions from the British Basketball Federation.

According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations, the world governing body has the right to decide whether or not the host nation’s teams – both men and women – are granted automatic spots in the Olympic basketball tournament.

Patrick Baumann, Secretary-General of FIBA, said: “GB teams have made great strides by demonstrating their competitiveness at the top level in Europe in men’s and women’s events.

“The progress on the court has been excellent with qualification for this summer’s EuroBasket tournaments. We strongly believe that the GB teams could become powerhouses of world basketball if the right measures are put in place for the future development of the game.

“According to our surveys, basketball is one of the most popular sports among youngsters in the UK and there now needs to a robust legacy plan to capture and retain this passion and enthusiasm and take the game onto the next level once the 2012 Olympics are over.




“We want to ensure that the 2012 competition is the best in Olympic history but also that basketball can progress from the wings to the centre stage of British sport. For that reason, the Central Board decision is the most important in the history of basketball in the UK.”

The ruling will be announced by the 22-strong Central Board next Sunday and will be streamed live on www.fiba.com. The venue for the next FIBA World Championship for Women in 2014 will also be unveiled with Australia and Turkey as the finalists for that honour.

FIBA

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[fiba_fan]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

FIBA – Groundbreaking ceremony held for ‘House of Basketball’
House of Basketball worth the wait

Members of FIBA’s extensive family travelled from all corners of the world and were joined by local authorities on Monday for the historic groundbreaking of the House of Basketball close to the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

An estimated 200 people gathered in the commune of Mies, in the canton of Vaud, for a ceremony that marked the commencement of construction for what will become the international basketball federation’s permanent home in the winter of 2012-2013.

The memorable moment came more than 42 years after FIBA originally set out plans to find a place it could call its own and that fact was not lost on anyone involved in the process.

“It has been a long ride since 1968 when FIBA first decided to build its own headquarters,” said Bob Elphinston, President of the International Basketball Foundation (IBF), which will oversee the construction of the building.

“I am very proud that during my recently-completed term as president of FIBA and will all your support we were able to go through all the steps necessary to commence construction, including the establishment of the IBF that will manage this exciting project, a world class headquarter on behalf of FIBA.”

Elphinston’s successor at the helm of FIBA, Yvan Mainini, traced the international federation’s movements since its creation in Geneva in 1932.

“FIBA has had its head offices in a number of places over the past 78 years,” he explained. “First it was Rome from 1932 until 1940. Then it moved to Bern, Switzerland, from 1940 until 1956 for reasons that you can understand given the period.

“FIBA was transformed with its Secretary General (Borislav Stankovic) and had five different addresses in Munich. And then, after a fairly big change, in 2002, FIBA came to Switzerland, to Geneva. In late 2012-early 2013, we will return for the inauguration of this building and look forward to welcoming our national federation members.”

On 17th October 1968, at a FIBA Central Board meeting in Mexico, the decision was made to build FIBA a home, but no precise thought was given as to where and when.

It wasn’t until 30 years later, in 1998, that the FIBA World Congress looked at the idea more closely. In May 2000, eight cities presented their projects to the Central Board and FIBA chose to move back to Geneva, doing so on 29th May 2002.

Six years later, Mies was selected as the site for the ‘House of Basketball’ where FIBA purchased a land of approximately 8,000 square metres to build its own home.


FIBA becomes the latest international federation to set up its main offices in the canton of Vaud and the move was welcomed by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, whose headquarters are in nearby Lausanne.

“I rejoice that FIBA is joining the more than 35 international federations who are grouped around the IOC in the canton of Vaud that helps them so much,” he said.

“There's great added value (in having headquarters close to the IOC's) in that it faciliates the contacts between the IOC and the now more than 35 international federations residing around our headquarters. You can always work in a better way in a face-to-face contact than via e-mail, or video conference or telephone call. It forges stronger relationships.”



FIBA on Monday held the groundbreaking ceremony for its ‘House of Basketball’, which once completed, will serve as the organisation’s world headquarters.

Members of the basketball family travelled from all five continents to attend the ceremony and were joined by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, Councillor of State for Canton Vaud Jean-Claude Mermoud as well as local mayor for the municipality of Mies Patrice Engelberts.

FIBA President Yvan Mainini said: “A birth like this is something very important for FIBA. FIBA was first created in 1932 in Geneva and today is like a re-birth as we break ground here to give the federation the dynamism it will need in coming years. We look forward to this project being completed so that we can welcome you all here again in two years time.”

Rogge told the more than 200 persons attending the ceremony: “Basketball is a universal sport. It is a sport that requires very little infrastructure and therefore is ideal to be played at school level. It is a sport where there is no violence, that carries values and that is very appealing.”

“I would like to congratulate FIBA for this great initiative. This building will allow FIBA to do an even better job of fulfilling its mission regarding basketball and the development of the sport.”

The building, which seen from above is shaped like a hand and incorporates structural elements strongly resembling a basketball net, should be completed during the winter of 2012-2013, with investment in the project totalling CHF 30 million. As well as the administrative offices of FIBA, the building will house the newly set up International Basketball Foundation (IBF) and the FIBA Hall of Fame.

During the ceremony, a capsule was filled with basketball objects and memorabilia that included a signed ball, a game jersey and a book on the history of FIBA that will be cemented into the building’s foundations.


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[prettyball]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

The World Championship and the Grand Daddy of all Friendly Matches,
Spain vs Team USA: What a game!

What a privilege to commentate last night the grand daddy of all friendly matches, Spain vs Team USA, a matchup where both teams obviously played hard looking for a prestigious victory. The game more than lived up to the hype while it approached but didn't equal the fabulous 2008 Olympic final in Bejing, which is already saying alot!

Both teams played great basketball at a high intensity and velocity with many players performing at a very strong level led by Kevin Durant and Juanca Navarro, the two leaders who lived up to their reputations and crucial roles.

This game was a stark positive contrast to the sad spectacle of the brawl between Greece and Serbia in Athens a few nights earlier. The game was hard-fought and Marc Gasol and Durant got into a little verbal spat but in general there was an attitude of respect and fair play throughout the game,all the better!

From the standpoint of Team USA, the win was a welcome confidence-builder and the squad corrected all of the weaknesses seen the night before in a horrible first half against a valiant Lithuanian team which is putting up some decent results in preparation games despite missing most of their confirmed stars except for Linus Kleiza.

After changing his starting five vs. Spain, Coach K saw immediate results as Derrick Rose and Lamar Odom were more dangerous offensively than Rajon Rondo and Tyson Chandler.

The Americans limited their turnovers, hit their open shots,attacked the Spanish man to man defence aggressively, lowered Spain's shooting percentage with tight defence and even pulled out a surprise zone defence on the last decisive possession.

They seem to be adapting quickly to the international style and refereeing.

The real and new Kevin Durant showed up hitting a bunch of big shots and even blocking the last two attempts by Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez in the waning seconds.

Wow what a show! The learning experience continues for the super young Team USA which has pleased world-wide fans with their humble attitude and desire to progress while respecting their opponents.

Coach K said before the game that Spain is favorite to be World champion because of their shared experience and he added that watching them pass the ball around is watching beautiful basketball.

Gracias!The last remaing question is who will be cut from the team as Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry played well to improve their chances.

From the Spanish point of veiw, they are probably diappointed to have lost in front of their home fans but they came back strong in the fourth quarter to go ahead by two and this pleased coach Sergio Scariolo.

They copied the Americans brick launching vs. Lithuania from the day before as they openned the game missing alot of open shots and they seemed surpassed by Team USA's speed and aggressiveness.

After the adrenaline rush at the game's start the teams settled down into a more methodical style and showed some good passing prowess in the half-court game.

Spain has Marc Gasol which gives them the low post fixation point that Team USA lacks and this gives them a more balanced inside out game.

Running Navarro and Rudy off of high post screens is their bread and butter along with the uptempo rythmn imposed by Rubio who proved once and for all, in his duel with Rose, that he is ready for the NBA!

Spain showed weakness getting back on D,defending penetration and on the defensive glass giving way to many second chances to the American jumping jacks!

Navarro took to heart Ricky's suggestion to take over the team leadership with Pau Gasol in the stands chatting up his beatiful girlfiend!




The Pau pair had some stiff competition for most glamourous couple in the arena from soccer player Christian Ronaldo and his pinup!

In any case, if this was a preveiw of a future semi-final matchup in Istanbul then everybody should note the rendez-vous in their agendas because the spectacle was grandiose.

I also saw Australia barely beat Brazil yesterday and these two teams confirmed their status as sure-fire quarterfinalists. end

George EDDY from FIBA

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[jungle212]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Greece & Serbia... the Jungle ! Meanwhile FIBA condemns violence...

Greece have won the Acropolis Tournament in Athens by edging out Serbia 74-73 but it came in controversial fashion as the final was abandoned following a huge brawl.

Serbia were doomed to only the second defeat of their preparations for the FIBA World Championship when a scuffle between Antonis Fotsis and Milos Teodosic turned into a major incident involving almost every player from both teams.

Both teams were sent from the court before the referees decided not to resume the game, handing Greece victory as they had led when the fight began, with two and half minutes still on the clock.

Passions had been running high through the game, and shortly before the fight began, Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic had been charged with a second technical foul and ejected, an incident Greece used to come back and take the lead.

...the jungle-basketball begins somewhere on 2:25...

FIBA condemns violence
GENEVA (FIBA) - FIBA unconditionally condemns the violence that occurred during the Final of the Acropolis tournament between Greece and Serbia that was played in Athens, Greece last night.

Such scenes involving players on a basketball court are entirely unacceptable, especially as players are seen as important role models for young fans.

They are also ambassadors for basketball on the global stage and they should always be seen to act as such.

Patrick Baumann, the Secretary General of FIBA, said: "I was appalled to see the disgraceful scenes that occurred during the Greece v Serbia game. They were an awful stain on the good name of world basketball.

FIBA will take whatever steps are necessary against any individual player found to have been involved in this shocking incident. FIBA will not let this stand.

"FIBA, as the sport's world governing body, is now urgently reviewing last night's game and the circumstances leading to the violence.

FIBA will not be commenting on the actions of any individual player ahead of that review being completed.

However, FIBA wishes to make it clear that it will not hesitate to take the strongest possible action against any individual found to have brought the sport of basketball into disrepute."

FIBA

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[kadursal]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

FIBA Online and the World Championship: Join in the Action

Record numbers expected with international basketball more accessible than ever

In 15 days the FIBA World Championship gets underway and the many websites of the www.fiba.com online family are already hotting up, with traffic increasing on a daily basis.

FIBA pages on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are buzzing with excitement ahead of the Championship. These three sites have not only helped reach out to fans, but have also provided much needed feedback on the developments and the challenges in basketball today.

Passion is the word which best describes the discussions that animate the FIBA run social networking and community sites. Proud of your National Team? The many thousands of custom made jerseys that have created using the My FIBA Jersey Facebook application give a sneak preview of the level of support teams will enjoy this summer. The players are even getting on board, as Argentina's Andres Nocioni created the number 13 shirt he will be sporting.

News spreads like wildfire thanks to FIBA's tweets, and our followers' re-tweets. Tens of thousands of basketball fans discovered within minutes – much to the delight of their ear-drums - that there would be no vuvuzelas in the arenas of Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kayseri. Updates to rosters and pre-tournament warm up game results are all only a tweet away.

But the event website www.Turkey2010.fiba.com will obviously be THE place to go for all the information on this summer's Giant Get-Together. With specific event-related information – travel tips, guides to host cities, detailed game reports and a home page for each participating team – it is designed to help travelling fans, while ensuring that those who can’t attend nevertheless feel at the heart of the action.

Watching the action will just not be enough for certain fans, while others will be stuck in the office with no TV in sight. They can turn to FIBA’s always popular – and revamped – Live Stats will cover every part of the court and scoreboard.

When we talk about Live Stats, we don’t just mean boxscores. Every imaginable statistic is obtainable thanks to customisable modules, while you can also see who has attempted what shot from where thanks to the court map. E-mail services that are offered when you register (for free) with FIBA Live Stats include quarter-by-quarter and post-game statistics as well as our very popular Daily Newsletter, which delivers all the day’s news straight to your inbox.

For fans on the go, the lightweight version www.turkey2010.fiba.com/mobile is ideal for mobile devices, giving them access to what they want, wherever and whenever they want it. And it is giving basketball fans access to the sport that is one of FIBA's main aims in all its online activities.




FIBAtv.com will stream all FIBA World Championship games live, allowing those fans living in countries where the event is not being broadcast, to follow all the action for only a small fee.

With such an extensive list of online services providing instant information about the tournament, the question is not ‘will you be following the FIBA World Championship ?’ but ‘How will you be following the FIBA World Championship ?’.

From FIBA Today

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[Turkey2010]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

'Why Basketball?' Survey holds contest to send two lucky fans to Turkey

FIBA's online basketball survey www.whybasketball.net will be sending two lucky basketball fans to Turkey to attend two FIBA World Championship games.

The 'Why Basketball?' project is collecting data among fans and players about how they were introduced to the sport, what the sport means to them and what they like/dislike about basketball. The gathered data will be used to gain additional insight into some of FIBA's key stakeholders.

A book detailing and analysing the results of the survey is also planned.

Up for grabs for one lucky fan is a pair of tickets to the FIBA World Championship Eighth-Final games played on 4th September 2010.

All participants having completed the survey by 21st August will automatically be entered into the draw. The names and answers of the lucky winners will be published on www.whybasketball.net and on fiba.com.




The prize also includes return flights for two people from the winning entry's closest international airport, double room accommodation in a three star or better hotel in Istanbul on the nights of 3rd and 4th September and local transfers.

So visit www.whybasketball.net for a chance to attend the biggest event in World Basketball.

From FIBA Today

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[cambiazzo]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

FIBA World Championship in Turkey 2010 ~ World Premonitions

I've closely been following the preparation games for the upcoming World Championship in Turkey and I am convinced that when the dust settles we will see USA, Spain, Turkey and Brazil in the semi-finals.

They will be accompanied by Serbia, Greece, Australia and France in the quarters even though Croatia, Slovenia and Argentina have the potential to qualify too!

This means that USA and Brazil will both qualify out of group B and no team will make the semis from group A.

The mega-matchup between Spain and USA whould happen in the semi-finals which resembles the memorable USA-Greece semi in 2006 in Japan.

A Turkey-Brazil semi-final duel would pit the strong home team(only lacking Mehmet Okur) furiously supported by their rabid fans, against the most intriguing squad, Brazil, a rare team that can count on all of its stars present for a unique chance at a medal led by a renowned and successful coach.

Even without Pau Gasol, Spain can give mucho headaches to a Team USA lacking international experience and inside strength in their eventual semi. The formula for the competition means passionate elimination games starting in the round of 16 with extra days of rest guarantee a higher quality of play throughout.

For a spot in the top eight, France should profit from being second in a rather weak group D, whereas the group C appears the most competitive. France has lost Tony Parker and Roddy Beaubois at the playmaker spot which will load lots of responsabilities on the shoulders of Nicholas Batum, their best player, Boris Diaw their veteran captain and Michael Gelebale back in the fold after a long absence as newly crowned French league champion and MVP of the final!

Like Team USA, France will be hoping for some breakout performances from their inexperienced centers Ian Mahinmi and an improved and more muscular Alex Ajinca after regretting once again the absence of the Bull's Joakim Noah logically afraid to risk injury if he hasn't signed a lucrative contract extention with Chicago.

Unfortunately Chicago feels it's in their interest to slow the negotiations so that Noah doesn't go, while I would think they would realize that Noah would improve his game vs. top flight international competiton. Eternal conundrum, because Chicago could respond, look at Beaubois' broken foot or Parker's multiple injury problems last season!

Of couse surprises could come from a great young Serbian generation or a not so young Greek squad as well as from Australia reinforced by Alex Maric but to me a Spain-Turkey or USA-Brazil final seems more probable.

In general, the World Championship is up for grabs between the aforementioned teams and the competiton should be really exciting but the absence of so many big stars makes us wonder if the new NBA collective bargaining agreement shouldn't start with a shortening of the NBA season to leave a little more wiggle room for international competition and increase the importance of NBA regular season games but this is a subject I've covered in other articles over the years and hope is slim.




For instance, it's honest to suggest that Germany and Lithuania are not fielding teams truly deserving of a wild card because so many stars are missing.

I'll end up by reiterating other probably pious wishes concerning worldwide rules uniformity and more fluid movement between Europe and the NBA for young players under contract in order to improve the overall quality of basketball competitions around the world!

I'm waiting for your comments here !

George EDDY from FIBA

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[basketfour]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Power rankings ~ already updated ! : Turkey 2010 FIBA World Championship

See, BiE secretly knew this would happen … you break down, make a few fearless predictions online and bam! The inconvenient fact of a loss – two losses in fact, one particularly egregious – goes down and you suddenly have to rework the whole damn post on 2010 FIBA World Championship power rankings.

In the egregious loss previously referenced, the proclamation that Team Canada would “surprise a few people” proved prophetic, but not in the way assumed. Over a squad that FIBA was forced to label a “Canadian developmental team” did Spain romp for a final score of 84-38. Those who’ve doubted the star power of Team Spain can note Felipe Reyes, Rudy Fernandez and Carlos Suarez all going for double-figures in limited team plus probably with one arm tied behind their backs.

And Team Slovenia was no doubt downloading BallinEurope’s original power rankings to use as fodder to beat up on Australia, 71-60. No depth, judged BiE? “Ha!” responded the Slovenes, who brought Sani Becirovic to put up 20 points and unleashed The Dragon for Goran Dragic to add 13. (BiE told you the Aussies would never get above no. 10 for the remainder of the tournament.)

Ah no matter … we knew these things were flexible, right? Plus, BallinEurope gets to splash a big “updated” across the post, like a real cutting-edge producer of news and opinion. BallinEurope’s official 2010 FIBA World Championship Power Rankings run below the break.

1. Spain. The defending champions immolated Canada, proving they’ll probably be able to sleepwalk through pool play. Sergio Scariolo has removed Pablo Aguilar for contention from the final squad, Sergio Llull may be next for the ax due to his injury, and it barely registers a blip in talent-level dropoff.

2. USA. BiE’s been accused of overrating European players, and it was presciently pointed out to BiE today that Team USA will possess one distinct advantage in this tournament, i.e. for the first time the three-point line has been moved to the American standard for FIBA tournament play. But they’re staying here until they get to beat up on some Canadians or something.

3. Greece. No reaction from the Greek contingent for placing Team Hellene a mere third? Disappointing that no one can tell me how Greece can beat Team USA … come on, there’s got to be someone out there…

4. Brazil. South American champion team members Murilo Becker and Nezinho Santos joined Team Brazil in practices today, making the (impressive) extended 14-man roster the following: Becker, Santos, Hatila Passos, Anderson Varejao, Maybyner Hilario, Tiago Splitter, Marquinhos Vieira, Guilherme Giovannoni, Marcelinho Machado, Leandro Barbosa, Alex Garcia, Marcelo Huertas, Paulo Boracini and Raul Togni Neto.

5. Serbia. No news remains good news for Team Serbia (in a way). Basically in a virtual tie for fifth place in the last BallinEurope 2010 FIBA World Championship Power Rankings, they’ll get to move up a spot thanks to an enviable lack of injuries. (See: Nocioni, Andres.)

6. Argentina. So what if Andres Nocioni’s injury is minor and that he’ll be off crutches by the opening game of this tournament? The lack of practice time and conditioning will surely hurt his game and this team.

7. Russia. BiE has also been informed that we’re overrating Team Russia going into this tournament … so why stop now? The truth is that Timofey Mozgov, still well on an upward swing after his breakout season with BC Khimki and his signing by the New York Knicks, has joined the squad. And that’s another plus.

8. Turkey. This impressive and perhaps underrated (by the general public, not BiE) squad is at full strength and head coach Bogdan Tanjevic is pleased with the team’s progress. So why do they lose a place in these power rankings? ‘Cause life’s unfair, BiE’s telling ya!

9. Slovenia. Right, BallinEurope is officially done with underestimating Slovenia. In fact, jettisoning pouty NBA stars seems to be the secret to Slovenia’s success. A few days after Beno Udrih left the team in a huff over playing time, the Slovenians just go out and dominate Australia, win a four-team tournament over three of the top teams of the Southern Hemisphere (Oz plus Asia’s top two, Iran and China) and prove that they’ll survive pool play already.

10. France. Still no Joakim Noah, still no moving up in this chart.

11. Lithuania. Okay, the basketball-happy land moves up by pure dint of the U18 team’s inspirational play this weekend. That and the fact that these guys now essentially appear to be getting handed at least third place in Group D.

12. Croatia. A recent barrage of bad news from the Team Croatia camp: Mario Delas and Leon Radosevic are out, while Zoran Planinic’s knee surgery will keep him from full practice for a while yet. A win against Italy gets Croatia this high in the rankings, but this tournament figures to be an uphill battle.

13. Germany. Without Dirk Nowitzki for the tournament, in the short term Team Germany almost has a best-of-both-worlds advantage: The national team gets to break in a roster chockfull of young talent from Tibor Pleiss and Lucca Staiger on down from a group in which Germany has a puncher’s chance to advance.

14. Australia. Thoroughly spanked by Slovenia on Sunday, Australia has plenty of time to get just enough bottle up to advance out of pool play. (They’re better than Angola and Jordan, right? Right? Also: How much will Andrew Bogut’s stock increase by *not* playing in this tournament?)




15. China. Coming in third place in a four-team tournament and you move *up* in the BiE Power Rankings? Yes, for two reasons: 1. They barely lost to Australia and 2. They should advance from Group C … unless it’s Puerto Rico…

16. Canada. Who knows why after the 84-38 at the hands of (a real team) Spain? This spot could well be occupied by Liberia or New Zealand … perhaps Group D should be called “The Group of Life.”

From BallinEurope.com

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[dandyball]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Excitement grows for FIBA World Championship with one month to go

Before you know it the biggest event in world basketball will be thrilling spectators, tv audiences and basketball fans all around the globe.

Every Championship tries to BUILD-UP its COUNT-DOWN. Whether "one year to go", 100 days, three-full moons or the number of hours equal to the sum of the points scored in last edition's final, countdowns are a a feature of the run up to any Championship.

But we are not going to make a big deal about today's date. However, we ARE going to make a big deal about what we can all look forward to between 28th August and 12th September.

So (with one month to go), here are a few things you can look forward to:

- A Championship more open than ever, with at least 10 teams having a chance to bring home gold
- Passion from Turkish host fans that rivals that of any other country in the world
- Unprecedented spectator and media response
- Fan tailored coverage on FIBA's online channels
- Brand new basketball arenas that look superb and of course the monster Final Round Sinan Erdem Olympic dome
- Sports building bridges in the first round games USA vs Iran and Turkey vs Greece
- The birth of new heroes of the game: Kevin Durant? Ricky Rubio? Joakim Noah? Nick Calathes? Patrick Mills?




- Gold, Silver and Bronze medals; another major chapter in basketball being written
- Bascat - the coolest mascot of 2010 - getting up to mischief as he visits the four host cities
- Hoops, dunks, 3-pointers, alley-oops, buzzer-beaters
- Blocks, steals, nasty rebounds
- and plenty more

So remember the date. On 28th August the 2010 FIBA World Championship gets underway., Now don't tell us we didn't warn you.

from FIBA

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[fiba_fan]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

FIBA Commissioner: "We must capitalise on high awareness of basketball"

It takes the right kind of people to make a World Championship event successful.

Of course, teams, players and coaches play their part in that, but there are no games without referees and officials whose careful selection is the responsibility of a FIBA commissioner.

FIBA.com caught up with Alison Muir, FIBA Commissioner in Toulouse for the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women, to find out about her role at the event as well as her involvement with England Basketball.

FIBA: How long have you been with FIBA and what are your main responsibilities?
Muir: I have been a FIBA Commissioner for 10 years and I am responsible for the training and approval of referees and officials for international championships.

FIBA: You are also involved with English basketball. How does that link with your FIBA activities?
Muir: I am chairwoman of the England Basketball Association which helps with the flow of information between FIBA and England Basketball. FIBA Commissioners have similar links with all the basketball nations. I am proud to say that England Basketball is aiming to bid to host the European Championships in the near future, maybe in 2015.

FIBA: What do you think of the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women so far?
Muir: I am in Toulouse for the entire duration of the tournament so I can only speak for what I have seen here, but I think it is all very encouraging. The crowds so far have been bigger than at some other championships - and that's been without the host nation France (who were playing the Preliminary Round in Rodez). The arena should be pretty full for the final phase of the competition.

FIBA: What benefits will come from this tournament?
Muir: Experience and public awareness of our sport. After these kinds of events, the public always has a higher awareness of basketball and we have to capitalise on that. As far as the players, officials and referees are concerned, it's all about gaining valuable experience.




FIBA: Do you have any links with the Olympics and particularly with London 2012?
Muir: FIBA will ensure there are trained referees and officials, and of course we will provide support with our experience of international basketball events.

from FIBA Today

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[england2012]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

FIBA World Championship, Turkey 2010
The "Pulpo Paul" and the Kebab Krossover 2

Merhaba! The second installation of my Kebab Krossover for Turkey 2010 is now online.
Again, I compiled some of the news surrounding the participating countries and players right below. Enjoy!

The U.S. sending fresh faces to Turkey, namely guys like Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and David Lee. Unfortunately, the Miami Heat-trio of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have chosen South Beach over the Bosporus. Otherwise it would have been great to have them there.

Lithuania is falling apart these days.
The federation told the media, that they are going into rebuilding because they are going to host the European Championships, but to me, it looks like the lack of motivation coupled with the lack of money made a lot of the touted stars pass on the opportunity to play.

Brothers Darjus and Ksistof Lavrinovic as well as Arturas Jomantas, Marijonas Petravicius, Rimantas Kaukenas and Sarunas Jasikevicius won't be with the team and Ramunas Siskauskas, Darius Songaila and Zydrunas Ilgauskas retired from the national team.
That leaves the Lithuanians with Linas Kleiza and Robertas Javtokas as leading players while Donatas Motiejunas should be using the World Championships as a stepping stone to his rising career.

Serbia's coach Dusan Ivkovic is currently trimming down his roster. Luka Bodganovic, Mladen Jeremic and Zoran Erceg are out and 16 players are still practising.

Several players are absent for Russia - So far. Kirilenko could be forced to sit out due to his previous injuries that he sustained during the last season, as the Utah Jazz are unwilling to let him go to Turkey right now, being afraid, that he might be returning later re-injured again.

Brazil's Leandrinho Barbosa and Turkey's Hedo Turkoglu are reportedly switching teams, and another talented Brazilian is joining the NBA:
Tiago Splitter signed with the San Antonio Spurs, while French Ian Mahinmi might be leaving the same team for Dallas soon.

Russian center Timotey Mozgov should be popping up in the roster of the New York Knicks next season. A surprising move for many, this young gun might develop into a star in a few years.
If he's going to join Russia in the World Champs though has to bee seen.

The Turkish duo of Semih Erden and Ömer Asik signed both in the NBA as well. Together with Hedo and Okur, they form the Turkish NBA fraction next season.

Spaniard Rudy would love to be home again to join Ricky Rubio.

The Ivory Coast names its pre-selection for Turkey.
The 24 players fighting for a spot in the roster are: Charles Abouo, Wilfried Aka, Pape-Philippe Amagou, Brice Assie, Ibrahim Cisse, Souleyman Diabate, Remi Dibo, Patrick Konan, Guy Landry, Desire Gabou, Jonathan Kale, Jean-Philippe Koffi, Kouassi Konan,. Stephane Konate, Mohamed Kone, Fred Kounkorgo, Herve Lamizana, Namori Meite, Ismael N'diaye, Jonathan Ouegnin, Soumahoro Issife, Eric Tape, Michael Toti and Guy Serge Touali.

Not considered were: Ousmane Cisse (Eastern Illinois), Patrick Herve Gnagbo (CB L'Alfas del Pi, Spain), Sanko Camara (CO Souffel, France NM2), Jourdain Allou (Navarro College, USA), Vassy Banny Leander (Montana University, USA), Jean Amenou Baptiste (SUNY Orange, USA), Arnaud Dahi (WAC, Morocco), Affeli Serge, Frejus Zerbo (Pro A Gravelines, France), Abdulai Jalloh (Springfield Armor, NDBL USA), Guy-Joel Moulare (St.Helena, Sweden), Mamadi Diane (CB Penas Huesca), Spain)

The Head-coach of Angola, Luis Magalhaes called up the following 16 players for the first stage in Cabinda: Miguel Lutonda, Carlos Almeida, Felipe Abrao, Felizardo Ambrosio, Joaquim Gomes, Yanick Moreira, Olimpio Cipriano, Domingos Bonifacio, Leonel Paulo, Divaldo Mbunga, Eduardo Mingas, Roberto Fortes, Miguel Kiala, Paulo Barros, Simao Santos and Valdelicio Joaquim.

Lebanon is heading into preparations as well. They have chosen to face opponents like Japan, Philippines, Iran and Syria among others. The downside might be, that the Tab Baldwin-led team is only playing one tournament with real WC contenders like Argentina, Turkey and Canada just three days before the World Championship begin.

Neigbours Jordan are suffering currently due to visa problems and the lack of finances.
Also, their German-Jordanian center Jamal Al Maaytah left the team and won't return.

Puerto Rico won the Centrobasket 2010 in the Dominican Republic over the host country by the score of 89-80. "Pulpo Paul" knew that already before.




As always, Carlos Arroyo was instrumental in securing the title once more. Newest addition Renaldo Balkman of the Denver Nuggets played a pretty good tournament and should be a lock on the power forward-spot due to his premier rebounding skills as well as his strong defensive play.

That's all for this week's Kebab Krossover - More to come within the next weeks!

I'm out like predictions of seafood.

Kris Santiago from FIBA

Visit: eBA Portal, Blog, Encyclopedia, Clinics, eBA System Book, eBA on Google +, Facebook,Twitter,YouTubeBA & eBA Store

[asianfan]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Basketball without Borders breaks new ground in southeast Asia

Basketball without Borders (BWB) is to make its inaugural visit to Southeast Asia when it will holds the BWB Asia camp in the city-state of Singapore from 28th June to 1st July, the National Basketball Federation (NBA), International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Singapore Sports Council (SSC) announced on Thursday.

NBA All-Star Al Horford of the Dominican Republic, along with fellow countryman Francisco Garcia will be joined by Trevor Ariza, Corey Brewer and Kyle Korver as the players acting as mentors and counselors for the four-day camp.

BWB is the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development programme that uses the sport to create positive social change in the areas of education, health and wellness.

The top 50 players from 22 countries across Asia - as selected by FIBA and participating federations - will come together to train under NBA and FIBA players and coaches and compete against their peers. The camp will culminate with a BWB All-Star game on 1st July at the Singapore Sports School.

"It is a great pleasure to visit Singapore for the first time," said Patrick Bauman, Secretary General, FIBA and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "The interest in sports - particularly basketball - is growing rapidly over there and we are confident that through Basketball without Borders we can help further that growth, thereby allowing young basketball talents to maximise their potential both on and off the court."

"This is an exciting time for sports in Singapore because the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will be held there in August. So the timing of the BWB camp, in the lead-up to that historic event, is ideal."

The camp will also feature an extensive community outreach programme. Efforts will focus on grassroots basketball development and health-related issues with a focus on youth fitness. In addition, there will be a product donation to local community-based organisations that will include school supplies, books, clothing and basketball equipment.

"The community outreach programme is invaluable in providing young people with all the necessary tools to have a positive impact among their peers and become role models in their communities," added Mr Baumann.

A Special Olympics clinic will be held at the Singapore American School on 28th June with athletes from across the region having a chance to show off their shooting, passing and dribbling skills in fun games.

Bob Gambardella, Chief of Sports Development Group and Singapore Sports Institute, Singapore Sports Council, believes the camp will be a great success.

"We are confident that the inaugural entry of BWB Asia in southeast Asia through Singapore will inspire not only A Sporting Singapore but also the next generation of athletes to raise the Singapore flag high," He said.

Nike, a BWB partner since 2002, will again outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel.

"Basketball without Borders teaches young basketball players the importance of hard work, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship," said Lynn Merritt, Vice President of Global Basketball Sports Marketing for Nike.

"These are all crucial to the future success of these young campers both on and off the court and we are proud to be working with the NBA and FIBA to promote these values."

Basketball without Borders camp information (subject to change):

BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS ASIA
Singapore, Singapore
28th June-1st July 2010
Singapore American School

Players
Trevor Ariza - Houston Rockets
Ronnie Brewer - Minnesota Timberwolves
Francisco Garcia - Sacramento Kings
Al Horford - Atlanta Hawks
Kyle Korver - Utah Jazz




Coaches
Gene Keady - Coaching Legend
Bob McAdoo - Miami Heat
Don Newman - San Antonio Spurs
Joe Wolf - Milwaukee Bucks
Gregg Farnam*** - Minnesota Timberwolves
Dean Cooper** - Minnesota Timberwolves
** Camp Director
*** Athletic Trainer

Marketing Partners
Nike, Singapore Sports Council, Spalding, Fullerton Hotel, 100 Plus

from FIBA Today

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[usa_coach]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

New York Basketball Festival sets new standards
for FIBA World Championship warm-up events

The growth and popularity of the FIBA World Championship has resulted in warm-up events for the biggest international basketball tournament having to step up their efforts too.

USA Basketball and Nike did just that by creating the World Basketball Festival which will take New York by storm in mid-August.

The men’s national teams of Brazil, China, France, Puerto Rico and the USA – who are all headed to the FIBA World Championship in Turkey – will be on hand to provide all the basketball action fans can handle over the course of the four-day event in the borough of Manhattan.

The festival will open on Thursday 12th August with a scrimmage between members of the USA national team – on an open-air court set up in Times Square – and conclude with an exhibition double-header on Sunday 15th August at Madison Square Garden with the USA facing France, followed by China squaring off with Puerto Rico.

On 13th-14th August, the action will move to the legendary basketball courts at Rucker Park, in the neighbourhood of Harlem, where Brazil and Puerto Rico will hold open-air practices and scrimmages while France plan on going through a training session.

Over the course of those two days, a grassroots youth tournament will serve as a platform to showcase the very best of some of New York’s top summer basketball leagues. Fans will get a chance to participate in the basketball extravaganza through clinics designed to improve their skills.

The festival is set to reach its climax at the world famous Madison Square Garden on Sunday 15th August. The exhibition double-header will start with the USA taking on France before China go up against Puerto Rico, in what is sure to be an interesting preview of a Group C clash at the FIBA World Championship.




“The World Basketball Festival will be an unforgettable event for the people of New York city and basketball fans around the world,” said Nike Brand president Charlie Denson.

In addition to all the basketball action, music will play a big part too in the festivities with a concert by a surprise act in Times Square and performances by top international names at Rucker Park.

The 2010 FIBA World Championship will tip off on 28th August.

FIBA

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[change131]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

FIBA World Championship, Turkey 2010:
Is the U.S. pulling out of the World Champs ?

Merhaba! Yes, the title is a bit provocative, but when I read this story here, I really wonder if the whole topic is not a bit too exaggerated, as I can't imagine a U.S. team pulling out of the competition due to the strained relations between Turkey and Israel.

Believe me, I won't go deep into politics, but I would bet that Turkey is a safe place for U.S. citizens and for other citizens in general.

When looking over to the Football World Cup in South Africa, which is about to go down in a few days, then I would rather say that the situation there is by far more threatening for fans and players than in Istanbul.

I hope that the stars in the U.S. line-up are not using it as an excuse to stay home instead of representing their country's colors.

This would not come as a surprise to me, as some players such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony or Dwight Howard already are talking about passing on the World Championships and with stories like the one I linked to this blog, they might be using this opportunity to jump ship.




If that happens, then I am looking forward to watch how young and hungry newcomers like Kevin Durant, Tyreke Evans, Derrick Rose and Stephen Curry are going to compete in Turkey, showing some passion for the game.

It's still the World Championships after all, and if you don't bring your A-game, you better stay at home!

I'm out like excuses.

Kris Santiago from FIBA

Visit: eBA Portal, Blog, Encyclopedia, Clinics, eBA System Book, eBA on Google +, Facebook,Twitter,YouTubeBA & eBA Store

[este_lito]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Just 100 days to go before the "Giant Get-Together"
The 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship in Turkey

With 100 days to go before the start of the 2010 FIBA World Championship  in Turkey, the organisers say all tickets that were available on public sale for the event have already sold out.

Only a small contingent will be made available shortly before the event begins on 28th August.

Around 350,000 people are expected to attend the Championship, which culminates in the final on 12th September.

The event will be played in four cities - Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kayseri - and feature 24 teams, with 288 players playing 80 games. Two new venues have been built especially for the Championship.

Patrick Baumann, the Secretary-General of basketball's governing body FIBA and a member of the International Olympic Committee, said:

"The 2010 World Championship will be the world's biggest ever basketball competition, and the biggest event ever to  be held in Turkey. We are delighted that all available tickets have already sold out, a sign that the world's second biggest sport is as popular as ever.

"Basketball has a clean, positive and exciting image and is followed by over 450million people around the world. Its future is as bright as ever and the World Championship will be a clear symbol of the sport's growing success."

The first round of the Championship, which returns to Europe for the first time in 12 years, will be played from 28th August to 12th September and feature superstars including Kobe Bryant.

The team winning the FIBA World Championship 2010 will qualify automatically for the London 2012 Olympics.

The following teams have qualified for Turkey:

Group A (Kayseri): Angola, Argentina, Australia, Germany, Jordan, Serbia

Group B (Istanbul): Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Slovenia, Tunisia, USA

Group C (Ankara): China, Greece, Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, Russia, Turkey

Group D (Izmir): Canada, France, Lebanon, Lithuania, New Zealand, Spain




For further information, please visit fiba.com or contact:

FIBA Press Office on +41 (0)22 545 00 46 or communications@fiba.com

LEWIS PR on +44 (0)207 802 2626 or fiba@lewispr.com

About FIBA

FIBA (www.fiba.com), the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Its main upcoming events are the 2010 FIBA World Championships for Men and Women, to take place in Turkey and in the Czech Republic respectively.

For further information about the 2010 FIBA World Championship, visit the event website http://turkey2010.fiba.com, the FIBA twitter page http://twitter.com/fibaworld or the FIBA Facebook page http://facebook.com/FIBAWorld.

Visit: eBA Portal, Blog, Encyclopedia, Clinics, eBA System Book, eBA on Google +, Facebook,Twitter,YouTubeBA & eBA Store

[mycountry]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Turkey ‘plays’ host to FIBA World Championship, summer 2010

Cementing its reputation in the world of sports, Turkey will host FIBA’s World Championship basketball tournament, between August 28 and September 12, 2010. The world’s largest and most prestigious basketball tournament brings together 24 teams from five continents in Turkey, one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world.

Turkey is proud and excited to have been chosen to host this quadrennial event, which is returning to Europe for the first time in 12 years. In order to determine the world’s best basketball nation, 80 basketball games will be played at stadiums throughout key tourist cities in Turkey including Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, and Kayseri.

With the goal of achieving an unprecedented level of excellence in the organization of the FIBA World Championship and working towards the ultimate dream of hosting the Olympic Games, Turkey’s Local Organizing Committee has been making preparations throughout the country. Renovations have been made on Ankara’s Ankara Cok Maksatli Stadium; Istanbul’s Abdi Ipekci Arena; Izmir’s Halkapinar Arena; and Kayseri’s Kayseri Arena; and an entirely new stadium, the Sinan Erdem Dom, has been built in Turkey’s capital city, Istanbul.


Turkey is a modern nation with a captivating blend of antiquity and contemporary and of East and West. The cradle of civilization and center of world history today stands as one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world.




Turkey was the site of the first human settlement; the seat of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman Empires; the birthplace of Homer and the last home of the Virgin Mary, just to name a few. Today Turkey, with its spectacular coastline, majestic mountains, cosmopolitan cities and quaint villages is one of the world’s most fascinating destinations.

From FIBA

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[nogueira]

World Events • Eventos Mundiales

UAE - Olympic Federations to review TV revenue share

The 28 Summer Olympic sports federations, feeling the squeeze from the global economic downturn, decided on Tuesday to review the way broadcast revenue from the Games are distributed.

Federations taking part in London 2012 will share around $375 million from the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) TV deals.

Athletics will get the biggest share with $35 million. Soccer, swimming, basketball, cycling, gymnastics, tennis and volleyball, ranked in group two, can expect about $18 million each.

Sports chiefs voted on Tuesday to alter the system after the London Olympics to make it more representative but some federations had argued that a revision was needed immediately.

The IOC distributes the broadcast revenue from Olympic TV deals to the 28 sports, placed in four groups. Federations in the two lower groups are allocated $13 million and $11 million respectively.

"The share of TV revenues ... needs to be reviewed now, not in two years," international swimming federation (FINA) chief Julio Maglione told a meeting of the 28 sports.

MARKET APPEAL

"The current distribution does not reflect ... the changes in market appeal and changes in sport."

Swimming is among the most watched sports at the Games.

Boxing chief Ching Kuo Wu had also asked for an immediate revision, as did handball and table tennis bosses.

The IOC has secured a record total of $3.8 billion from broadcast rights for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver that took place in February and for London 2012.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and world soccer's governing body (FIFA) agreed to give $20 million from the combined TV funds they will receive for the London Games to the other federations.




"I said last year that if our finances are comfortable we would give that (windfall) to the other federations," FIFA chief Sepp Blatter told Reuters. "That is exactly what we will do now."

Federations will receive more money for London 2012 compared to Beijing 2008 as there are only 26 sports on the program instead of 28.

Softball and baseball were voted off for London, with golf and rugby replacing them at the 2016 Olympics.

FIBA

Visit: eBA Portal, Blog, Encyclopedia, Clinics, eBA System Book, eBA on Google +, Facebook,Twitter,YouTubeBA & eBA Store

[Karlovy212]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

2010 FIBA World Championship for Women in Czech Republic

With the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women in Czech Republic approaching fast, the application process for media accreditation is now up and running.

All media wishing to attend the Championship are required to fill in and submit the on-line application form. Access restricted, the registration portal is protected by the following password: 2010WCW.

Please note that the application process is an online service only; it will not be possible to obtain accreditation for this event by any other means.

The form is available at www.fiba.com/media-accreditation-cz
The deadline for application is 20th June 2010. Requests received after this date will not be taken into consideration.

We would like to remind you that the online registration form is an application only and accordingly does not guarantee accreditation to the event.

FIBA and the Local Organising Committee will inform all applicants of the success of their requests no later than 5th July 2010.

For further information, please contact FIBA Communications at accreditation-cz@fiba.com if you report to a media organisation with head offices outside of the Czech Republic.

If you report to a media organisation based within the Czech Republic please contact the Communications Department of the Local Organising Committee at drobna@mdproduction.cz.

FIBA’s accreditation system allows representatives of the worldwide media to provide the necessary information quickly and simply without administrative hustle, and is designed to ensure the best possible working conditions and facilities for journalists attending the event.

Quick Facts about FIBA and the FIBA World Championship for Women

Held every 4 years, the FIBA World Championship for Women determines the world’s top nation in women’s basketball. The first edition was played in 1953 in Santiago de Chile. In 2010 the tournament will be the held for the sixteenth time.

First time winners Australia are the reigning champions. Brazil, who also have one gold medal are the only other nation besides the USA (7 gold
medals) and the Soviet Union (6 gold medals) to have won the Championship. The 2010 FIBA World Champion will automatically qualify for the 2012 Olympic Basketball Tournament for Women in London.




For more information go to http://czechrepublic2010.fiba.com

FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

FIBA

Visit: eBA Portal, Blog, Encyclopedia, Clinics, eBA System Book, eBA on Google +, Facebook,Twitter,YouTubeBA & eBA Store

[georgia]

Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

FIBA World Championship schedule and playing times

ISTANBUL, Turkey (FIBA World Championship) – With less than six months to go before the
tournament gets underway, the schedule for the 2010 FIBA World Championship has now been
established.

The draw for the above championship was held in Istanbul, Turkey on 15th December 2009.

Group A (Kayseri): Angola, Argentina, Australia, Germany, Jordan, Serbia
Group B (Istanbul): Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Tunisia, Slovenia, USA
Group C (Ankara): China, Ivory Coast, Greece, Russia, Puerto Rico, Turkey
Group D (Izmir): Canada, France, Lebanon, Lithuania, New Zealand, Spain

Here is the tournament schedule:

All times are given in local time (CET +1, GMT +2).
Please note that beyond the First Round, the order of the games has not been established and
will be finalised after each respective previous round.

First Round
The First Round will see a total of 60 games, in which each team faces the other five teams in its
respective group.

28th August 2010

Group A (Kayseri)
Game A 1: 16:30 Australia vs Jordan
Game A 2: 19:00 Angola vs Serbia
Game A 3: 21:30 Germany vs Argentina

Group B (Istanbul, Abdi Ipekci Arena)
Game B 1: 16:30 Tunisia vs Slovenia
Game B 2: 19:00 USA vs Croatia
Game B 3: 21:30 Iran vs Brazil

Group C (Ankara)
Game C 1: 16:00 Greece vs China
Game C 2: 18:30 Russia vs Puerto Rico
Game C 3: 21:00 Ivory Coast vs Turkey

Group D (Izmir)
Game D 1: 16:00 New Zealand vs Lithuania
Game D 2: 18:30 Canada vs Lebanon
Game D 3: 21:00 France vs Spain

29th August 2010

Group A (Kayseri)
Game A 4: 16:30 Jordan vs Angola
Game A 5: 19:00 Serbia vs Germany
Game A 6: 21:30 Argentina vs Australia

Group B (Istanbul, Abdi Ipekci Arena)
Game B 4: 16:30 Slovenia vs USA
Game B 5: 19:00 Croatia vs Iran
Game B 6: 21:30 Brazil vs Tunisia

Group C (Ankara)
Game C 4: 16:00 China vs Ivory Coast
Game C 5: 18:30 Puerto Rico vs Greece
Game C 6: 21:00 Turkey vs Russia

Group D (Izmir)
Game D 4: 16:00 Lithuania vs Canada
Game D 5: 18:30 Lebanon vs France
Game D 6: 21:00 Spain vs New Zealand

30th August 2010

Group A (Kayseri)
Game A 7: 16:30 Jordan vs Serbia
Game A 8: 19:00 Australia vs Germany
Game A 9: 21:30 Angola vs Argentina

Group B (Istanbul, Abdi Ipekci Arena)
Game B 7: 16:30 Slovenia vs Croatia
Game B 8: 19:00 Tunisia vs Iran
Game B 9: 21:30 USA vs Brazil

31st August 2010

Group C (Ankara)
Game C 7: 16:00 Russia vs Ivory Coast
Game C 8: 18:30 Puerto Rico vs China
Game C 9: 21:00 Greece vs Turkey

Group D (Izmir)
Game D 7: 16:00 New Zealand vs Lebanon
Game D 8: 18:30 France vs Canada
Game D 9: 21:00 Spain vs Lithuania

1st September 2010

Group A (Kayseri)
Game A 10: 16:30 Serbia vs Australia
Game A 11: 19:00 Germany vs Angola
Game A 12: 21:30 Argentina vs Jordan

Group B (Istanbul, Abdi Ipekci Arena)
Game B 10: 16:30 Croatia vs Tunisia
Game B 11: 19:00 Iran vs USA
Game B 12: 21:30 Brazil vs Slovenia

Group C (Ankara)
Game C 10: 16:00 China vs Russia
Game C 11: 18:30 Ivory Coast vs Greece
Game C 12: 21:00 Turkey vs Puerto Rico

Group D (Izmir)
Game D 10: 16:00 Canada vs New Zealand
Game D 11: 18:30 Lebanon vs Spain
Game D 12: 21:00 Lithuania vs France

2nd September 2010

Group A (Kayseri)
Game A 13: 16:30 Angola vs Australia
Game A 14: 19:00 Argentina vs Serbia
Game A 15: 21:30 Jordan vs Germany

Group B (Istanbul, Abdi Ipekci Arena)
Game B 13: 16:30 USA vs Tunisia
Game B 14: 19:00 Slovenia vs Iran
Game B 15: 21:30 Brazil vs Croatia

Group C (Ankara)
Game C 13: 16:00 Puerto Rico vs Ivory Coast
Game C 14: 18:30 Greece vs Russia
Game C 15: 21:00 Turkey vs China

Group D (Izmir)
Game D 13: 16:00 Spain vs Canada
Game D 14: 18:30 Lebanon vs Lithuania
Game D 15: 21:00 New Zealand vs France

The teams placed 1st – 4th in each group will qualify for the Eighth-Finals.
The teams placed 5th – 6th in each group will return home.

3rd September 2010 Travel and Rest Day

Eighth-Finals

The 16 teams qualified from the First Round will play direct elimination games (standard knockout
format).

From the Eighth-Finals onwards, all games will be played in Istanbul’s Olympic Dome.

For the Eighth-Final round, the game times will, in principle, be 18:00 and 21:00. Please note
that the game order is subject to change, and will be finalised and confirmed after the previous
round.

4th September 2010

Game 61: A1 vs B4
Game 62: D2 vs C3

5th September 2010

Game 63: C1 vs D4
Game 64: B2 vs A3

6th September 2010

Game 65: B1 vs A4
Game 66: C2 vs D3

7th September 2010

Game 67: D1 vs C4
Game 68: A2 vs B3

The winners of the Eighth-Finals will qualify for the Quarter-Finals. The losers of the Eighth-
Finals will return home.

Quarter-Finals

For the Quarter-Final round, the game times will, in principle, be 18:00 and 21:00. Please note
that the game order is subject to change, and will be finalised and confirmed after the previous
round.

8th September 2010

Game 69: Winner 61 vs Winner 62 ( 1 – 8 )
Game 70: Winner 63 vs Winner 64 ( 1 – 8 )

9th September 2010

Game 71: Winner 65 vs Winner 66 ( 1 – 8 )
Game 72: Winner 67 vs Winner 68 ( 1 – 8 )

Semi-Finals

For the Semi-Final round, the game times will, in principle, be (15:00), 19:00 and 21:30. Please
note that the game order is subject to change, and will be finalised and confirmed after the
previous round.

10th September 2010

Game 73: Loser 69 vs Loser 70 ( 5 – 8 )
Game 74: Loser 71 vs Loser 72 ( 5 – 8 )

11th September 2010

Game 75: Loser 73 vs Loser 74 ( 7 – 8 )
Game 76: Winner 69 vs Winner 70 ( 1 – 4 )
Game 77: Winner 71 vs Winner 72 ( 1 – 4 )

Finals

For the Final round, the game times will, in principle, be 15:00, 19:00 and 21:30. Please note
that the game order is subject to change, and will be finalised and confirmed after the previous
round.




12th September 2010

Game 78: Winner 73 vs Winner 74 ( 5 – 6 )

Game 79: Loser 76 vs Loser 77 ( 3 – 4 )

Game 80: Winner 76 vs Winner 77 (1 – 2)

FIBA

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Basketball World Events • Eventos Mundiales del Baloncesto

Schedules for Women’s U17 World Championship published

With the groups for the inaugural U17 World Championship for Women drawn on 12th February, the exact tournament schedule has now been finalised.

In the 2009 U16 Continental Championships, the 12 participating countries were determined. Divided into two groups of six, the teams will play the five others in their respective groups during the group stage.

The first round will be played between 16th and 21st July, with group A games disputed at the Amphithéâtre in Rodez and group B games at the Palais des Sports in Toulouse.

The Championship openers see Japan taking on Russia in Rodez and China playing Argentina, with both games scheduled for 3:00pm CET. Later that day – also in group A – hosts France get their campaign underway with a tough game against pre-tournament favourites USA (5:30pm CET).

The following day old foes USA and Russia collide in a fixture that rarely disappoints (group A – 5:30pm), while Australia play China in what is expected to be a tightly contested game between two title hopefuls (group B – 5:30pm).

Day three of the competition, held on 18th July, serves up two repeats of last year’s U16 FIBA zone championship finals when USA come up against Canada (group A – 3:00pm CET) and Spain face off against Belgium (group B – 5:30pm).

Another game to keep an eye on is the coming together of two powerhouses in world basketball Spain and Argentina on 20th July (group B – 8:30pm CET).

On 21st July all 12 teams will play their fifth and final first round games, bringing the group stage to a close.




The four top placed teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, held on 23rd July, while the semi-finals will be played the following day.

On Sunday 25th July, the two winning semi-finalists will come head to head to determine the winner of the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship for Women.

FIBA

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