Olympic approval for British basketball

The decision was announced at world governing body FIBA’s central board meeting in Lyon, bringing a successful conclusion to a long campaign from British Basketball.

Board members voted 17-3 in favour of allowing Britain to play, but attached a condition that the sport’s governing structure be resolved by June 30, 2012 – as opposed to the 2016 deadline sought by British Basketball.

Great Britain forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu, part of the delegation to hear the announcement, said: “It’s like having the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders.”

Great Britain have not played basketball at an Olympic Games since 1948, the last time that the event was staged in London. That lack of presence at the top level of the sport led FIBA to demand signs of a real commitment to grow the sport on the back of the Games. FIBA had asked to see evidence that Britain could put a competitive team on the court and that the Games would leave a legacy for basketball in the country. Although they came to France confident, British players and officials faced a long, anxious wait as FIBA board members ran over their scheduled time debating Britain’s situation.

Their eventual decision came with the attached condition that the three home nations which make up British Basketball – England, Scotland and Wales – have 15 months to decide whether to merge completely or disband the British team following the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.