GB To Examine Hosting Future Eurobasket
British Basketball has appointed Capita Symonds Sport & Leisure Consulting to undertake a feasibility study into the potential of hosting a future European Championship Finals (Eurobasket).
The study, which is jointly funded by British Basketball and UK Sport, will explore potential venues and logistics of such a major sporting event as EuroBasket being hosted in the UK. If the findings of the study prove positive, and it is given the go ahead by British Basketball and the home nations, a formal expression of interest could be required in early 2011.
At this stage hosting both 2015 and 2017 will be considered by Capita Symonds and such iconic indoor venues as the O2, Olympic Arena 3, Liverpool Echo Arena, Manchester MEN Arena and the new Glasgow Commonwealth Games arena could form part of a future British bid.
The feasibility study into hosting the men’s European Championship Finals is a further strand in British Basketball’s Towards 2016 and beyond (T16) strategy, which aims to provide a lasting legacy for basketball in the UK after the London Olympic games in 2012.
Chris Spice, British Basketball Performance Director, who is leading the study said:
“If we do want to be a regular player on the largest basketball stage in Europe and if we are serious about creating a lasting legacy from our participation in the London Olympics in 2012, then we have to host such events as the EuroBasket finals. We are grateful that our vision is being supported by UK Sport and we thank them for their assistance in supporting this feasibility study. Capita Symonds made an impressive bid and we are looking forward to working with them over the coming months to see if this is feasible. We hope the entire basketball community in the UK will be excited by the prospect of hosting a major sporting event on this scale and look forward to their involvement.”
Although British Basketball is playing a leading role into the feasibility study, any formal bid would also need the full support of the UK basketball home nations; England Basketball, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales have all given their backing.
What do you think having Eurobasket on UK shores would mean for basketball in this country? Would you like to see the tournament taking place here? Drop a comment and let us know!
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