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Basketball bosses angered by switch of Games venue
Matthew Beard, Sports News Correspondent10.10.08
Olympics chiefs have become embroiled in a spat with the head of world basketball over moves to cut costs on the sport's 2012 Games venue.
In an unprecedented public attack, Patrick Baumann an International Olympic Committee member said he was not told the arena may move out of the Olympic Park.
Mr Baumann, also a member of the IOC's co-ordination commission overseeing London's preparations, feels his sport is "unwelcome" in Britain and is writing to the Government and Games chiefs to complain.
World governing body Fiba is determined the venue is not changed so it can become a showcase for the sport's growth in Britain and are opposed to any switch to Wembley Arena. Basketball has been identified as a key sport to help to boost youth participation, especially in deprived areas, and midnight basketball schemes in London are considered an ideal low-cost model.
The 12,000-seat temporary venue, with a £60 million budget, has been at the centre of a cost review by accountants KPMG for the Government.
Mr Baumann, Fiba secretary general and a rising IOC star, told the Standard: "We were approached during the bid and we said we wanted the O2 Arena but were told that was not possible, which was disappointing.
"We agreed to it being brought into the Olympic Park because, as one of the core venues, we thought in a country that is not basketball friendly it might improve its popularity. We expected that to be honoured. Wembley has never been an option."
The 2012 organising committee Locog said: "The review has not yet been completed and no conclusions have been reached. Locog has represented sport and the athletes in the review and we have always made it clear that any venue changes would have to be approved by the IOC and the International Federation."
