FIBA Oceania adopts new logo

From: www.saipantribune.com
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By  Jon Perez

With 2008 marking its 40th year of existence, FIBA Oceania adopted a new logo that best represents its accomplishments throughout the region.

According to the FIBA Oceania website and in an email by Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands secretary general Michael A. White, the logo will be used by the organization in 2008.

The logo, which has a basketball player attempting to dunk the ball with the number 40 as its background, were sent to the 21-member federations of FIBA Oceania with a request to use the logo throughout the year.

The Oceania was the last zone to be organized and was admitted to the FIBA family during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. The other FIBA regions are Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe.

Since its creation in 1968, FIBA Oceania has represented the 21-member federations' interests at the international level. “And has provided a pathway for elite teams from the zone to participate at the highest level of international competition,” said in the FIBA Oceania website.

Teams from Oceania before played against Asian teams in Olympic and World Championships qualifying games.

FIBA Oceania officials also hope to make basketball the most played sport in the Pacific by 2010.

FIBA Oceania Administration and Special projects director Judy Smith said the member federations can now use the logo in their letterheads, competition draws, posters, and other correspondence.

The new adopted log is just in time for this year's FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament where eight countries will be competing in the men's and women's divisions from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 in Guam.

Aside from host Guam, the other competing nations are Australia, the CNMI, Palau, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.

The 2008 FIBA Oceania Under-19 Youth Basketball Tournament was originally scheduled to take place from July 12 to 20 but was pushed back.

The eight competing teams are limited to only 13 members composed of 10 players, one coach, one manager, and one referee. If a participating country fields teams in both divisions, they are entitled to bring in an additional person as head of their delegation.

Host Guam will provide accommodations, transport going to and from the hotels and game venue, and meals for all the teams. Teams need to have a qualified and experienced referee in order to be accepted in the tournament.

Top performers and best players in the tournament will be selected to become members of the Oceania men's and women's All-Star teams that will join the Australian Under-18 National Championships in February 2009. All-Star coaches and referees will also be selected in the Guam competition.

Players who are qualified to join the Under-19 youth tournament are those born starting Jan. 1, 1989. Australia and New Zealand will also be competing in the Guam tournament.

Aside from Guam, American Samoa, Fiji, and Samoa bid to host the 2008 FIBA Oceania Under-19 Youth Basketball Tournament.

The 2008 FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament will be the 7th edition of the event, which began in 1997 in Fiji. New Caledonia (1998), Vanuatu (200), Tonga (20002), Australia (2004), and New Zealand (2006) also hosted the tournament