Australia is the world’s sixth largest country by total area size, with just over 7,600,000 square kilometres and has a population of just under 23 million people. Sport is a mainstay in the Australian culture, with basketball one of the most popular sports to play, alongside football (soccer), Australia Rules Football (AFL) and rugby.
Australia and international events go hand in hand, with the Asian Football Championships, Cricket World Cup and Netball World Cup all to be hosted by the Australians in 2015 alone. Australia also hosted both the 1956 and 2000 Olympics as well as the 1962, 1982 and 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Australia is no stranger to hosting international basketball events either, regularly hosting Oceania Junior and Senior championships, as well as the 1994 FIBA Women’s World Championship.
Game 1 of this edition of the FIBA Oceania Championship will no doubt be a world class event, at the iconic Rod Laver Arena in the heart of Melbourne.
As well as their love of sport, Australia is well known for its endless stretches of yellow sanded beaches, laid back characters and wide ranging wildlife.