Great Britain’s women’s and men’s basketball teams have been granted automatic qualification to the London 2012 Olympics, following a Central Board meeting this weekend in Lyon.
Unlike other team sports in the Games, it was down to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to decide whether they wished to grant a host nation place. As such, Team GB’s involvement in basketball at next year’s Games is only able to go ahead following agreement from the Federation.
Following this weekend’s meeting, the FIBA board members voted 17-3 in favour of granting GB their host nation places, a successful outcome to British Basketball’s ongoing campaign - the ‘Say Yes’ campaign was launched in an effort to gather public support to aid British Basketball’s bid for a place at the Games.
Even though Board members voted in favour of allowing Britain to play, they also attached a condition - that the sport’s governing structure be resolved by 30 June 2024 rather than the 2016 deadline requested by British Basketball.
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Women’s Head Coach, Tom Maher, commented: “It is fantastic news from FIBA that the GB teams have been awarded their host nation places to compete at London 2012.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved over the last few years and to be given the opportunity to step on court against World’s best at the highest level of competition will be the highlight of an enormous amount of hard work to reach this position. This will be my fifth Olympics and I’m excited to be accompanying the GB women’s team at their first appearance.”
As Britain have not had a team at the Olympics since the last time the Games were held in London in 1948, FIBA required confirmation that Britain were committed to develop the sport after the Games - that a lasting legacy would be left to be built upon after 2012.
FIBA’s decision held that in order to receive automatic qualification, the three Home Nations which make up British Basketball – England, Scotland and Wales must decide within 15 months whether to merge, waiving their individual votes within FIBA, or to disband the British team following the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
British Basketball’s Chairman, Bill McInnes, expressed his happiness at the announcement: “I’m obviously delighted with decision which celebrates the efforts of both the teams. Without their fantastic performances and determination I would not be here today receiving this great news.
“We have some time to investigate with the home nations what the legacy of basketball in Britain will be. But for tonight we focus on the celebrations associated with the positive Olympic outcome.”
Jessica Whittington, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
