Basketball administrators pleased

Press, 8 May 1982, Page 64

Basketball administrators pleased

By

MIKE JOHANSSON

New Zealand basketball’s administrators breathed a sigh of relief this week when Commonwealth countries decided against a boycott of the Brisbane Commonwealth Games because of the Springbok tou.' to New Zealand last year. A boycott may have led to a similar action next year when the Commonwealth basketball championships are due to be played in this country. The mens and womens championships are the biggest international basketball tournament to be staged in New Zealand and already the New Zealand ■ Basketball Federation has had its hopes built up and then dashed with the ebb and flow of black African opinion against New Zealand. The federation’s executive officer, Mr Joe McLeod of Christchurch, said yesterday that the decision in London earlier this week, “came as a bit of a relief.” The championships will be played throughout New Zealand from August 20-27 next .year with the women’s title being decided in Auckland and the men’s title being decided in Christchurch. Of the 18 countries that have indicated they would send teams, only Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Gibralta, and Australia may have ignored a boycott of New Zealand — taking away much of the prestige from the championships and spoiling the hundreds of hours put into the tournament by the N.Z.B.F. executive. The positive result of the London meeting will be followed' up in two weeks when the president of the New Zealand Basketball Federation. Mr Graham

Davey of Christchurch, travels to Geneva, Switzerland, for the fiftieth anniversary of F.1.8.A., basketball’s international governing body. While in Geneva Mr Davey will press countries for firm commitments to send teams to New Zealand next year. Mr McLeod said he hoped that all final entries would be “firmed up” by August this year and so giving himself and the N:Z.B.F. executive a full year to arrange venues, travel, and accommodation for the visiting nations. The federation is obviously hoping to get as much top basketball to as many parts of the country as possible and, is presently looking at venues for games throughout New Zealand. The New Zealand men’s side was second to Canada at the last Commonwealth mens’ championship in Britain, but next year women’s championships will be an inaugural event. As a build-up for the Commonwealth championships the New Zealand men’s side will travel to Taiwan and Korea next month. The New Zealand coach, Peter Schmidt, who has been hit by withdrawals from last year’s national team and the last minute withdrawal of Canterbury’s John Hill, will announce his final team on May 17.