By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Several French players have publicly criticized the proposed basketball venue for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris. FIBA has expressed its concern as well, according to L’Equipe.
The Organising Committee aiming to reduce costs hopes to utilize existing venues. It recently announced the facilities in Porte de Versailles, home of the annual Paris International Agricultural Show, to host the preliminary round of the tournament featuring 12 national teams from all around the world.
Comment peut-on accepter de voir le basket, le sport Co le plus populaire aux J.O être envoyé dans le parc expo ?
Plafond trop bas, salle pas adaptée. @Jpsiutat on ne peut pas laisser passer ça !!!
Je crois rêver! pic.twitter.com/AAhGsaOjAp— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) March 16, 2022
“We won the silver medals in the previous Olympic Games, we will be playing at home, and we don’t deserve a real arena?” wondered Evan Fournier of the New York Knicks talking to French newspaper L’Equipe, “Basketball is the number one team sport of the Olympics.”
“Are you really gonna let the best team sports of the event be played in this location?” Nicolas Batum of the Los Angeles Clippers asked via a post on Twitter, “I don’t know who’s in charge but you have to do better for basketball!”
“I don’t know who is in charge of selecting the venues for the 2024 Olympics but bro wake up because you are embarrassing us all over the world,” Vincent Poirier of Real Madrid wrote on Twitter.
Moving to a standard basketball arena, the AccorHotels Arena is scheduled to host the later stages of the tournament.
The 12 spots to the Olympic Games are expected to be awarded through the rankings of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the connected Olympic Qualifying Tournaments following in 2024.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL