In a FIBA Central Board meeting, it was decided to give Venezuela the right to organize the Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year. Venezuela was chosen over the other bidding finalist Lithuania, which already hosted EuroBasket 2011.
“It’s very sad that politics is becoming more important than the actual sport. The first thing on the priority list should be the comfort of the players and the best conditions for them," said Mindaugas Ballciunas the General Secretary of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation.
The vote to determine the host of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament was delayed by FIBA until the evening, but talks about Venezuela being the favored candidate started to emerge mid-day.
"Our long term goal is to change the current way of thought in the basketball world and international organisations, making the sport, and not some side issues, the number one priority,” Balciunas expressed his disappointment.
A total of 12 teams from five continents will be competing for the three remaining spots in the 2012 London Olympic Games. The games will be played in Polidero arena, which was built in 1974 and can fit up to 13,000 spectators, in Caracas.
“It will be an important advantage for our country to be able to play at home in front of a crowd of approximately 10 thousand people, who will act as a sixth man,” said Carmelo Cortez, the President of the Venezuela Basketball Federation.
Venezuela has previously hosted the 2006 South American Championship for Men and the 2002 Americas U18 Championship for Men.
