MEXICO CITY — Even as Canada Basketball was licking its wounds after one of the most devastating losses in the program’s history, plans were being made to rebound.
Specifically, behind-the-scenes work was being done with an eye to explore a bid to host one of the three pre-Olympic qualifying events that FIBA will hold next summer for teams that failed to qualify for the Olympics through one of the zone championships.
Had Canada won against Venezuela on Friday at FIBA Americas they would have earned a spot in the 12-team Olympic field. Their third-place finish after their buzzer-beating win over Mexico on Saturday earns them a spot in one of three six-team tournaments next summer. The winners of those tournaments will take up the final three Olympic spots.
The first step will require submitting an expression of interest by September 28 and an official bid to be a host shortly after that. It is expected FIBA will award the three sites by the end of November. Timing for the tournaments has yet to be determined.
Canada would likely host the event at the Air Canada Centre through their relationship with MLSE, owners of the Toronto Raptors.
While the total costs to host the event are still being worked, it’s expected to cost about $5 million, a figure that would include the fee to FIBA and the expenses incurred as host. It’s a significant figure considering the budget for the men’s national team is in the $1.7-million range.
All three levels of government will be approached to help with funding. One snag will be the ongoing federal election, which will make it difficult to get a financial commitment immediately, but they could come in last after commitments from the provincial and municipal governments.
It’s thought basketball could get a sympathetic ear from all levels of government, considering $2.5 billion was spent on the Pan Am Games and consideration is being given to spending $50 million to bid for the 2024 Olympics. At the Pan Ams basketball was arguably the signature event and it’s hard not to imagine rising Canadian national team programs being the highest profile national teams at future Olympics.
“I think it would be fantastic,” said national team general manager Steve Nash. “I think just for the profile of the game in our country, to host an event like that, especially with all this young talent that we have, to have that sort of visibility and intimacy with the fans in our community is a big step for us. I think as much for qualifying, it’s just as positive for the growth of the sport and our national team in the country.”
