2 December 2010
British Basketball has appointed Capita Symonds’ Sport &
Leisure Consulting team to undertake a feasibility study into the
potential of hosting the men’s European Championship Finals in 2015
or 2017.
The study, which is jointly funded by British Basketball and UK
Sport, will explore potential venues and the logistics of hosting
such a major sporting event. If the findings of the study prove
positive, and it is given the go ahead by British Basketball and
the home nations, a formal expression of interest could be required
in early 2011.
Indoor venues such as the O2, Olympic Arena 3, Liverpool Echo
Arena, Manchester MEN Arena and the new Glasgow Commonwealth Games
arena could form part of the British bid.
The feasibility study into hosting the men’s European
Championship Finals is a further strand British Basketball’s
Towards 2016 and beyond (T16) strategy, which aims to provide a
lasting legacy for basketball in the UK after the London Olympic
games in 2012.
Along with the World Championships and Olympic Games this event ranks as one of the Big Three of international basketball and would attract a great many visitors along with vastly increasing the profile of the sport in Britain...
Chris Spice, British Basketball Performance Director, who is
leading the study said: “If we do want to be a regular player on
the largest basketball stage in Europe and if we are serious about
creating a lasting legacy from our participation in the London
Olympics in 2012, then we have to host such events as the
Eurobasket finals. We are grateful that our vision is being
supported by UK Sport and we thank them for their assistance in
supporting this feasibility study. Capita Symonds made an
impressive bid and we are looking forward to working with them over
the coming months to see if this is feasible. We hope
the entire basketball community in the UK will be excited by the
prospect of hosting a major sporting event on this scale and look
forward to their involvement.”
Although British Basketball is playing a leading role into the
feasibility study, any formal bid would be also need the full
backing of the UK basketball home nations.
Keith Mair, CEO from England Basketball commented:
“England Basketball strongly supports the initiative taken by
British Basketball to obtain UK Sport funding to assess the
feasibility of staging the highly ranked men’s EuroBasket
tournament in 2015 or 2017. Along with the World
Championships and Olympic Games this event ranks as one of the Big
Three of international basketball and would attract a great many
visitors along with vastly increasing the profile of the sport in
Britain.”
Basketball Scotland is also in full support of the work being
undertaken, CEO Kevin Pringle stating: “This is another example of
the home nations working together for the good of the sport.
We all recognise that the potential of hosting either the 2015 or
2017 can only have a positive impact on the sport.”
Will Jones, President of Basketball Wales, commented: “It is
important for the long term growth that we are continually looking
to unearth opportunities for the sport in the UK. As one of
the home basketball nations, it is imperative that we offer our
full support and backing to the prospect of hosting a European
Championship. We shall continue to work together to ensure a
comprehensive feasibility study is compiled.”
Capita Symonds’ Sport & Leisure Consulting team has
completed a number of similar studies in recent years, including
for the World Athletics Championships, 2014 European Swimming
Championships and 2015 Rugby World Cup (for Scotland).