Canberra to host 2013 FIBA Oceania Championships

Canberra will host the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championships between Australia and New Zealand this August ahead of 17th FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in Spain and Turkey next year. The double header to take place in the nations capital as part of Canberras Centenary will feature the Australian Boomers and Jayco Australian Opals taking on the New Zealand Tall Blacks and Tall Ferns. The two-game series will tip off in Auckland on Wednesday August 14, before arriving in Canberra at the AIS Arena on Sunday August 18. Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Kristina Keneally said Canberra fast becoming a mecca for basketball in Australia would be a fitting host for the FIBA Oceania Championships, one of the biggest tournaments on the high performance calendar. Canberra is one of Australias strongest sporting hubs, housing our elite program at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence at the AIS and boasting such fierce teams in the Canberra Capitals and Canberra Gunners, Ms Keneally said. It is only fitting that the proud basketball community in our nations capital should showcase these championships at the world class AIS Arena as the Boomers and Opals tip-off their campaign toward the 2013 World Cup. ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism and Events Andrew Barr said that the traditional rivalry between Australia and New Zealand in all sports made the Oceania series a great addition to the Centenary sporting calendar that Canberrans have been able to enjoy this year. As with many of the sporting events we have witnessed this year, the Oceania Qualifying Series is yet another top class international event as part of the Centenary Celebrations and Im sure that tickets will sell fast, particularly as it is a double-header and a rare opportunity to see the cream of both our mens and womens teams playing at the same venue, Mr Barr said. I encourage all those keen to be part of this unique opportunity to get your tickets early as there is no doubt that these games will be a sell-out. Basketball ACT Chief Executive Officer Tony Jackson said ACT Basketball were proud to be presenting partners of the Oceania qualifier on the back of a solid reputation for presenting top class events in the nations sports loving capital. Basketball ACT operates twelve months, seven days a year, from running community events to the housing of the Canberra Gunners in the SEABL and the Capitals in the WNBL, so to have the Oceania qualifier in such a big year for Canberra is a cherry on top, Mr Jackson said. We are excited to be a major part of bringing the Opals and Boomers here to our ever growing basketball community and were confident our major event experience will ensure a show worthy of a world cup qualifier. The Boomers have automatically qualified for the 2014 World Cup with Australia and New Zealand taking the two places on offer; however, seedings and group placements will be decided at the mens qualifier. The Jayco Opals must win the two-test event to qualify, as only one place is on offer in the Oceania Qualifier for women.
Courtesy of: basketball.net.au