Las Vegas to host Olympic basketball qualifier
Brian Mahoney, Associated Press
Monday, October 30, 2006
The United States can qualify for the 2008 Olympics without leaving home.
FIBA Americas announced Sunday that next summers qualifying tournament will be played in Las Vegas, where the American team holds training camp.
Las Vegas edged San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the right to host the FIBA Americas tournament, which will run from Aug. 22-Sept. 2. The top two teams in the 10-team field will earn berths into the Beijing Games, while the teams finishing third through fifth move to another 12-team tournament in 2008 that will determine three more qualifiers.
"Were excited and honored to have been selected to host this prestigious and important international basketball competition," USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said. "Holding it in Las Vegas will help make this a memorable championship. This will be an incredible international event for basketball fans in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas."
The tournament was originally awarded to Venezuela, but FIBA Americas reopened the bidding when the Venezuelans missed their payment deadline. The Americans then decided to bid after finishing third in the world championships, which forced them to have to qualify next summer.
FIBA Americas will receive more than $3 million from the United States, which is hosting the regional qualifier for the second time. The original Dream Team made its debut in 1992 while winning the qualifier in Portland, Ore.
The Americans also won the 1999 and 2003 tournaments in San Juan.
FIBA Americas made clear that its decision was largely a financial one, saying on its Web site that the USA Basketball bid won out "after evaluating the technical, marketing, television and other aspects that will guarantee the success of the tournament in the sporting and economic aspect."
The decision by FIBA Americas sets up a big basketball year for Las Vegas, which will host the NBA All-Star weekend in February. Then the Americans will train there, followed by 40 games in 12 days at the qualifying tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center.
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