3×3 basketball continues its march towards possible Olympic recognition at a good pace. After being present at the Youth Games in 2010 and 2014, the discipline is on the program for the European Games in Baku. The Swiss Patrick Baumann, secretary general of FIBA and member of the IOC, explained the issues and prospects to FrancsJeux. Before discussing Lausanne's candidacy for the Winter Youth Games in 2020... and saying a word about the Paris 2024 file.
FrancsJeux: What do the European Games in Baku represent for the discipline of 3×3 basketball?
Patrick Baumann: A great opportunity to move up a gear. Until then, we had been able to take advantage of the Youth Olympic Games, in Singapore in 2010 then in Nanjing last year, to show the strengths of this discipline. In Baku, we climb a new level, with competitions for adults. The level there is very high. 3×3 basketball allows new countries to introduce themselves. It offers even more universality to an already global sport.
Ultimately, what is FIBA's objective for 3x3 basketball?
The objective is clear: to make it an Olympic discipline. There is no longer the slightest doubt about that. 3×3 is a young, exciting and urban discipline. It can appear on the Games program alongside 5x5. We had high hopes for Rio 2016, but it ultimately proved impossible. For FIBA, the next step is to convince the IOC to add 3x3 to the Tokyo Games in 2020. The process is ongoing. We are ready to make our request formally. The file is finalized. 3×3 basketball allows us to see new talents and new countries emerge.
What will be the next steps?
The senior world championships next year in China, then the presence of 3x3 at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. We are working, in parallel, with the African Games to include the discipline. And we are in discussion with the Pan American Games and the Commonwealth Games, with the same objective. Finally, we have just learned that 3x3 will be included in the next Mediterranean Games.
Let's change the subject: the Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2020. How does the final stretch look for the Lausanne candidacy, of which you are one of the leaders?
We are working very actively on the presentations of our candidacy on voting day, July 31 in Kuala Lumpur. The message to be sent to the IOC members will be very important. We want to highlight the image of a city of Lausanne and a Switzerland that has winter sports in its genes. Before that, the next step will be the publication of the report of the IOC Evaluation Commission, scheduled for June 30. In the meantime, we are increasing the number of working sessions to see how we can make the most of this project for young people throughout Switzerland. We recently presented the athletes' village. A new skating hall will be built, whether Lausanne wins or not.
Paris formalized its candidacy for the Summer Games in 2024 at the beginning of the week. As an IOC member, how did you receive this news?
In my eyes, it is a very good thing that Paris is getting into the race. It has everything you need to have a great run in this campaign. All forces are united behind the project, everyone supports it. Paris will present an excellent file. But, beyond the French candidacy alone, I am delighted on behalf of the IOC to see the Summer Games in 2024 bring together all these renowned cities. For the Olympics, this is excellent news.
