FIBA Wants Expanded Olympics Field, Seating Changes

(ATR) FIBA President Bob Elphinston has urged a rethink on seating allocation at high-demand events for basketball at the Olympic Games.

The basketball competitions reached their climax this weekend with Australia playing the U.S. for the gold medal in the women’s final and Spain meeting the U.S. in the men’s final on Sunday.

The men's basketball tournament in Beijing ends the final day of the Games when the U.S. meets Spain. (Getty Images)Elphinston said there have been some difficulties with seating during the basketball tournament in Beijing at the limited-capacity Wukesong Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.

“There’s been a problem when the venue gets a visit from Chinese dignitaries or royals and outside security comes in,” he told Around the Rings.

“We have a fight on our hand to regain the seats for our federation officials of the IOC Family.”

He added that representatives of the NOCs and even FIBA board members are among those that have been left without a seat during high-demand matches in Beijing. These matches included games involving the U.S., China and Spain.

The seating problem relates to various accredited areas within the venue, he noted, particularly those designated to broadcast and print media and photographers where some seats remained unused even during the highly-anticipated matches.

According to Elphinston, the situation has led to “ill feeling” within the venue and a solution needs to be found.

“All sports have the same problems, so we’re not unique,” Elphinston admitted.

“Certainly we would like to discuss with the (international) federations and the IOC the experiences here in Beijing.”

Those discussions, however, will not take place until the debriefing session after the Games. FIBA President Bob Elphinston (FIBA)

“There has to be a way where you can expand and decrease some of the accredited seating areas according to the games that are being played,” he said.

“We’d like to better understand the process of allocating seating and make some improvements for London.”

Elphinston remarked that basketball has experienced the best Olympic competition “without doubt” in Beijing.

He stated there have been enthusiastic and record crowds at matches and praised the amount of media television coverage around the world.

“From a TV aspect it was the most watched tournament in history, especially opening night when China played the USA,” he told reporters.

“There were 27 million Americans who watched that game and more than 100 million in China, in addition to other major markets.”

Elphinston also indicated that FIBA worked hard with English-speaking officials within the Chinese basketball association to overcome language difficulties experienced by many of the international Australia and the U.S. played the women's final Saturday night in Beijing. (Getty Images) federations.

Meanwhile, FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann said it was time to expand the Olympic tournament from the present 12 teams in each of the men’s and women’s tournaments.

“As a result of the success here, we think basketball deserves a field of 16 teams.

“Some countries that are missing have a huge television audience.”

FIBA is also in the process of changing some international basketball rules to align international basketball with the NBA.

“If the rest of the world wants to compete with the USA, they must adapt to their rules,” Baumann stated.

The adjustments include altering the layout of the court by increasing the distance of the three-point line from the basket by 50 cm.

“In terms of the three-point line, it has become too easy,” Elphinston commented.

“Statistics show the youth, women and men categories are shooting a high three-point percentage.”

FIBA plans to implement the changes after the 2010 World Championship, with the changes coming into effect at the London Games in 2012.

Written by Anthony Stavrinos in Beijing

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