FIBA - FIBA meets LOCOG

DENVER (2012 Olympic Games) - FIBA President Bob Elphinston and FIBA Secretary General and IOC member Patrick Baumann met today with the representatives of the Organizing Committee of the 2012 London Olympic Games (LOCOG).

LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton, Sports Director Debbie Jevans and Head of Sport Competition David Luckes gave FIBA an update on the preparation progress in various areas. The focus of discussion was the status on the $83million temporary basketball arena that will be built on the Olympic Park site in east London.

The project will see the construction a 12,000-seat capacity temporary venue that will be used for the Preliminary Round and the Quarter-Finals of the basketball tournaments and the Handball Finals. The basketball Semi-Finals and Finals will move to the O2 Arena.

FIBA initially raised some concerns about the design of the temporary arena and its functional rooms such as the athletes and media areas. LOCOG has provided today with more detailed information of the planned arena set up and will now work closely with FIBA in the coming months to achieve the best possible solution for a top basketball arena.

FIBA also confirmed to LOCOG that it is still pursuing its motion to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a 16 - team field in the men's tournament. The IOC will decide on this request later in the year.

FIBA