The world’s basketball governing body, FIBA, opened up about introducing further changes to make the competition fairer when it returns in 2023.
FIBA to Streamline Traveling Arrangements for 2023 World Cup
FIBA will look into adjusting travel arrangements for the World Cup, following multiple reports about uncertainty regarding stay, accommodation and inadequate time for each team to prepare in the knockout stages – or rest for that matter.
The world’s governing basketball body will look into how Spain and Argentina – which both made it to the semifinals and won – may have benefited from having two days off whereas the other teams – Australia and France, only had one.
FIBA acknowledged that having 92 games in 16 days played in eight cities has caused the organization to work to a very tight schedule. Therefore, moving forward, the organization will strive to provide solutions that allow it to avoid a repeat of the same scenario.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis had this to say commenting on the present difficulties players and teams have faced:
After having experienced it, on paper sometimes it looks perfect. Then you see the imperfect aspects of it. These are the things we’re ready to improve in the future.
Serbia’s now former coach, Sasha Djordjevic, also agreed that having so many games in a tight schedule hasn’t done anything to improve the overall performance of athletes. Serbia was the country to defeat the United States, putting the homeland of basketball to its lowest historic standing in 7th position.
FIBA Comments on USA Performance
Asked about the U.S. recent game, Zagklis said that it wasn’t FIBA’s responsibility to make it so that athletes would join the team. If a lot of the NBA’s top talent hasn’t traveled to China, that was done out of their own volition.
We set the stage, the conditions for all the teams and then each national federation has its own way of approaching the players and having them commit to play for the national team.
Zagklis also took a question about Australia’s reaction to their loss from Spain. In the game between Australia and Spain, a double-overtime had cost Australia the game, which Andrew Bogut, the team’s center, called a disgrace.
Zagklis responded by saying that there were very strict regulations in place to make sure that such contentious rulings don’t need to happen. If there is the basis for a disciplinary procedure, Zagklis added, this would be taken into consideration.
With this out of the way, Spain is now the new world basketball champion, after the Spaniards defeated Argentina in the finals.
Meanwhile, everyone is looking forward to the next competition, taking place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As expected, the United States, Spain, France, Argentina, Nigeria, Iran,Australia and Japan are already going to have teams during the competition.
Qualifying events will determine who gets the remaining 12 slots.
