First Olympic Park test event gets underway
This week the Olympic Park will play host to competitive sport for the first time as the London International Basketball Invitational takes place from 16 August – 21 August, with Great Britain aiming to topple some of the world’s top teams on their road to 2012.
The Basketball Arena is hosting the first competitive sport on the Olympic Park this week.
Held at the brand new Basketball Arena – one of the largest temporary venues ever to be built for a Games – the tournament will see GB go head to head against five of the world’s leading basketball nations over five days of competition.
Top players from across the globe are set to make an appearance, including NBA stars Luol Deng for Great Britain and Tony Parker for France.
As well as providing the London 2012 Organising Committee with a chance to test key aspects of its operations, from competition floors and scoreboards, to accreditation and catering, the event is giving spectators a foretaste of what to expect next year. Up to 3,000 people will fill the venue on each day – becoming the first official spectators on the Park.
Debbie Jevans, Director of Sport at LOCOG said: ‘Having our first test event on Olympic Park makes the Games seem even closer and excitement is building. We are looking forward to hosting our first ever tournament in the Basketball Arena and testing our operations which will include transport into Olympic Park as well as the venue operations and of course the sporting field of play.’
FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Baumann said: ‘This invitational tournament will be a very interesting and competitive one, with six of the best teams in men’s basketball. The Olympic Basketball Arena is a wonderful and world class venue.’
For the complete schedule and results, visit the London Prepares series website
Tickets are still available for Sunday via the Ticketmaster website
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Category: London Prepares
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London 2012’s ambition is to create a Games for everyone, where everyone is invited to take part, join in and enjoy the most exciting event in the world.
London 2012 will create the most accessible and participative Games. It will touch people as it has never done before, stimulating people to do more and to try new things and reassess what we are all capable of.
London 2012 has sport at its heart and London at the centre, but it is more than London and more than sport. It is a Games for London, the UK and the rest of the world, for sport and culture, for volunteers and business.
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