Basketball Players
Having recieved anything but an easy ride into the games, the British basketball team have still yet to recieve automatic qualification into the competition, despite its status as host nation. This is partly because the team did not officially exist until 2006! The representatives of British basketball have been put on notice that the team will need to prove themselves as competitive if they are to be granted an automatic place on the 12 team competition.
The teams could qualify directly for the games by placing in the top two (mens team) or winning the competition (womens team) at Eurobasket. Failing this, the teams will hope to be granted an automatic place as host nation when FIBA meet to discuss the British team in February/March 2011. The campaign has seen some positive progress so far, both on and off the court.
British team coach, Chris Finch, spoke of the funding the sport has recieved - "UK Sport have so far showed tremendous support and belief in what British Basketball is trying to achieve and in turn I believe we have demonstrated that we deserve this through our rapid rise within the European rankings – both our men and women".
The basketball events will be held from the 28th July-12th August in a combination of both the ‘Basketball Arena' and the ‘North Greenwich Arena', London. The Basketball Arena is set to hold an astounding 12,000 spectators and is the fourth largest sports venue on the Olympic Park by capacity.
Fingers crossed that the guys manage to pull a successful team together in time. I'm sure they will prove they are worthy of their place when the games begin.
Please see my Bio below for further updates of the British Basketball team leading up to 2012:
My name is Leigh. I've been
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