By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Strong reactions have arisen from the German league regarding the possibility of Berlin or Hamburg hosting the pre-Olympic tournament ahead of the 2016 Games. The cost for ensuring the wildcard (1,8 million euros) is big and the league’s people argue it should be invested elsewhere.
“Even if a lot of people do not like my opinion, I believe that the Federation should not invest this money in a pre-Olympic tournament but in infrastructure for young children,” Bonn’s CEO, Wolfgang Wiedlich, stated in the Deutschlandfunk. At the same time, Alba Berlin’s vice president, Henning Harnisch, remains skeptical: “Where will that kind of money be found? The Olympic Games is a major event but a move like this would adversely affect the development of basketball.”
On his part, the president of the German federation, Ingo Weiss, made it clear that the proposition will be submitted only if conditions allow it. “We have said clearly that the proposition will be submitted only if the conditions are appropriate. If the federation has to spend more than 1 million euros then the proposition will not be made. A lot will depend on the assistance of the sponsors as well.” At the same time, in addition to Berlin, Hamburg has also entered the game of laying a claim on the hosting of the tournament. Ingo Weiss referred to this particular issue as well: “Berlin was and is our first choice, but we are going to speak with Hamburg as well. But it is clear there is not going to be a bidding war. We will take the most appropriate decision.”
It’s worth noting that the pre-Olympic tournament is now the only way that Germany can qualify for the Olympic Games. The winners of these three tournaments that are going to take place in July 2016 will get the last three tickets to Rio. And this is the only way Dirk Nowitzki will play again for his country’s national team.