The Youth Olympic Games are underway, and if reports are to be believed, the rollout of the new FIBA 33 format basketball tournament has been one of the highlights so far.
From Tom Degun’s article on insidethegames.biz:
“While the majority of the sports at these Youth Olympics are no different in structure to their counterparts at the senior Olympic Games, basketball has decided to be different.
…
Radical changes have been made to reflect the fact that were are actually at a Youth Games and basketball is reaping the rewards. Wherever you are in Singapore, the local people, particularly teenagers, are either talking about the action at the *scape Youth Space of flocking there in their droves to see it first hand for themselves. “
It’s wonderful to hear these good reports, hopefully it will prove to the world (and to the powers-that-be in South African basketball) that this should form part of the strategy for developing basketball at all levels.
We can’t say it any better than Tom concluded in his article:
“when it is all said and done, basketball will be the will be the real winner of these Youth Olympics and others disciplines should take note of their brave approach to making their sport appeal to the young.
No risk, no reward. “
Incidentally, there was a report today that the basketball venue’s roof collapsed – a real pity for Singapore as host. We can only hope it will not stop the rest of the basketball tournament from taking place. And no, I don’t think that’s the type of risk Tom was referring to above.
What do you think of the new format FIBA 33 tournament? Do you think it could be used successfully to develop basketball from a youth level?
