PR N°19 - BOCOG, FIBA and NBA to cooperate in Beijing Olympics sports presentation

BEIJING (Olympic Games) - The Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on sports presentation in Beijing.

According to the above-mentioned MOU, the NBA and FIBA will collaborate with BOCOG in order to implement sports presentation for the Olympic basketball tournaments during the Beijing Olympic Games. Sports presentation includes live music, wide-screen visualizations, public announcements, in-game entertainment, etc.

The NBA and FIBA already successfully implemented the in-arena game entertainment at the 2004 Athens basketball tournaments following the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Athens Organizing Committee (ATHOC). The goal of the project was to create an ambience for the athletes and the spectators which would be as compelling as the sports action.

FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann said: "We want to provide a memorable in-arena experience to the fans, motivate them to support our athletes and make the basketball competition one of the hottest sports at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing."

During the basketball competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, BOCOG, FIBA and the NBA will work closely in selecting, planning and developing the audio, visual and in-game entertainment elements. The NBA will provide human resources for the basketball sports presentation at the 2008 Olympic Games, including personnel such as game and video directors, music and production coordinators and script supervisors. They will be in charge of scripting the sports presentation, the in-game audio and visual, the costumes, and will also provide support as with regards to the training and recruitment of the cast for sports performances.

About FIBA:

FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 213 National Federations of basketball throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Its main upcoming events are the 2007 FIBA Zone Continental Championships that will qualify for Beijing 2008, the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (to take place in the summer of 2008) and the FIBA World Championships for Men and Women, held every four years. The 2010 FIBA World Championship will be played in Turkey.

FIBA