What's FIBA Africa Doing About 3x3?
FIBA 3x3 has been in existence since 2007. It was launched and a trial tournament was played in the same year at the Asian Indoor Games in Macau. Two years later, it was introduced internationally at the 2009 Asian Youth Games in Singapore.
Over the years, all FIBA zones have had 3x3 events which have drawn lots of fans to the game because of its appeal to the ordinary playground baller. Last year(2012) was probably the most successful year in 3x3 history, having seen the launch of the 3x3 World Tour that went to six different cities across the globe with the finals played in Miami between 21st and 23rd September. The 3x3 World Championships event that featured separate competitions for men's, women's and mixed national teams tourney was also hosted by Greece in August; Spain also hosted the U18 World Championships in August.
Evidently, these events have helped to increase the popularity of the game of basketball worldwide and more so in the host and participating countries. Africa basketball can and must benefit form this simple, beautiful and easily attainable FIBA initiative too. It's been six years since the launch of 3x3 by FIBA and not much of it has been seen on the African continent apart from a few isolated events organized by individual basketball organizations, an example being the Central Recreational Basketball League organized in Accra by DC Dynamics and ReboundGH with the help of several volunteers in October and November last year. Check out more photos from the CRBL here.
FIBA Africa has not hosted any 3x3 events so far and there are no signs of them hosting any soon. This, definitely is not good for the development of the discipline and the game as a whole on the continent. FIBA Africa's administration and management has never been under much scrutiny from its member countries. In my opinion, it's time for the African basketball family to demand more from their offices not only concerning 3x3 but the development of the game on the continent as a whole.
0 comments: