FIBA will not set an age limit for Basketball in the 2016 Olympics - International Basketball Update
There has been a lot of talk from NBA Commissioner David Stern regarding setting an age limit for basketball at the Olympics, but the idea is not bound any success any time soon.
Stern had been pushing for an age limit to be set on the event in order to restrict the amount of star NBA players participating in the Olympics and was backed up several team owners. But according to FIBA Chief Patrick Baumann,
no decision had been made regarding the matter and the age-limit is not bound to take effect in the 2016 Brazil Olympics.
"My feeling is that we will not be proposing a 23 age limit for the 2016 Olympic Games." – Baumann
He feels the NBA had forwarded the idea in order to take a younger direction to the event of basketball at the Olympics much like what the format of football event is.
"The NBA has come up with the idea to go with under 23 and at the same time to promote younger athletes," Baumann said. "And also to make a (distinction) between the (new) World Cup and the Olympic Games (by making only the World
Cup open to NBA players of all ages)."
The talk of setting up an age limit had been proposed by the Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban who felt that the team owners deserved some kind of compensation for letting their players plays in the Olympics as there is a huge
risk of injury in international games.
Baumann is well of the concern shown by the owners but feels that FIBA does not think on a similar level.
"From FIBA's perspective, we understand the perspective from USA Basketball and the NBA," Baumann continued. "I'm not sure (we) necessarily have the same idea, but we understand the owners' concerns."
The idea may have been to promote basketball with a younger age group and limit the NBA stars to participating in the FIBA Championships which are bound to be renamed as the World Cup of Basketball from 2014.
But it did get its fair share of criticism from several NBA players including Kobe Bryant who deemed the idea as stupid just last month.
There is popular belief that one of the major reason FIBA tends to disagree with the idea from the NBA is that given the amount of widespread talent in America. The basketball event at the Olympics would become even more dominating
as Americans players tend to develop at a more rapid pace than the over-seas players.
But, the NBA officials remain hopeful as they will continue to plead their case and look to achieve thier cause one day.
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