GBR – Amaechi helps mark two-year countdown to London Games
LONDON (2012 Olympic Games) – Former NBA player and England international John Amaechi helped mark exactly two years to go before the start of the 2012 Olympic Games in London by taking the first shot in the Basketball Arena at the Olympic Park on Tuesday. Amaechi played for England’s national team in the 1990s and came out of retirement in ...
LONDON (2012 Olympic Games) – Former NBA player and England international John Amaechi helped mark exactly two years to go before the start of the 2012 Olympic Games in London by taking the first shot in the Basketball Arena at the Olympic Park on Tuesday.
Amaechi played for England’s national team in the 1990s and came out of retirement in 2006 to help them take a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Paralympian Ade Adepitan and Team GB women’s Azania Stewart joined the 39-year-old former Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz centre in marking the special occasion.
Patrick Baumann, FIBA Secretary General and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said that basketball is the sport to look out for in the lead-up to – and during – the 2012 Olympics.
“With two years to go to the 2012 Olympics, basketball will be the sport to watch out for. With 450 million players and fans it’s the second biggest sport in the world and more people than ever will follow the upcoming FIBA World Championships in August and September,” he said.
The FIBA World Championship takes place in Turkey from 28th August to 12th September with the FIBA World Championship for Women following shortly thereafter, tipping off on 23rd September and finishing on 3rd October.
“Basketball transcends gender and country. It’s followed by men and women all over the world and will be one of the most exciting events in the 2012 Olympics,” Baumann added.
“The Olympics celebrates the purity in sport and recognises outstanding global talent. This is exactly what basketball is all about. It has one of the cleanest images in sport and is played by some of the best athletes on the planet.
“Basketball is a force for social good. It can enthuse and energise youngsters and help inner city communities. These unique attributes are imperative and will be on display in the Olympics.
“Basketball is the perfect partner for sponsors looking for new and innovative ways to align their brand. The clean image of the sport and its unique and globally diverse fan base is unrivalled.”
FIBA