SPORTS> Basketball
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SPORTS> Basketball
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Basketball game ready for lift-off in Britain
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-10 14:50 "When I travel through Europe I encounter multiple facilities built for basketball. We suffer from that. The O2 arena in London is a perfect venue but you have to dress it up, you can't just turn the key and walk in," he said. "Across Britain we need more places that clubs and schools can call home." John Amaechi, a 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist with England, told Reuters that the British team's success was outstanding given the lack of facilities. "These people have had to work harder because there isn't a gym or a quality coach around every corner," he said. In England alone between 80,000 and 100,000 children aged 11-15 play basketball, making it the second largest team sport for the age group. The key area to address, however, is unity. "WORK TOGETHER" In December, an independent chairman will be appointed to head British Basketball, which will then be recognised as the nation's official body by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), simplifying the amalgamation of BPB and the British Basketball Federation which happened in January 2007. Former BPB chairman Alistair Gray, who was named chairman of British Swimming last week, said last month that bolstering the national league should be a priority. "The underlying challenge is to strengthen the league in Britain and it will take some years before we achieve that," he told Reuters by telephone. Founded in 1987, the British Basketball League (BBL) is recovering from attendance and coverage losses following the management's decision in 2001 to leave Sky Sports and join ITV digital, which collapsed in 2002. However, games were televised on Setanta during the 2007-08 season. BBL chairman Paul Blake told Reuters that working in partnership was the key if basketball was to take off in Britain, as it did in Spain after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. "Sport England has looked at the sport in recent years and said it is fractious," he said by telephone from Newcastle. "Right now they're looking at it and saying it is getting its act together, and anything that comes in now to upset that current position is going to hurt the sport," he added. With talk of a nationwide grassroots tournament next May organised by the 20-month-old BBA (British Basketball Association), who in time also hope to start a national league to rival the BBL, Gray shares Blake's wish for unity. "The last thing you want is people fighting and then producing two mediocre leagues. My plea to them all is 'Guys just work together would you?' Swallow your pride and your ego and just get on with developing athletes in winning teams." |
