3-on-3 basketball could make its Olympic debut in 2020. From the Associated Press:
A full list of 2020 Tokyo Olympics medal events will be finalized by the IOC executive board next week, one month ahead of schedule.
Among more than 60 proposals, 3-on-3 basketball is an expected favorite after all were analyzed by an International Olympic Committee advisory panel.
The decision is due on Friday at a board meeting in Lausanne called at short notice to discuss awarding the 2024 and 2028 Summer Games hosting rights to Los Angeles and Paris at the same time later this year.
“Now that we have an (executive board) meeting on June 9 it makes sense to use this opportunity,” the IOC said on Friday. “In addition, an early decision is clearly beneficial to all the parties involved.”
3-on-3 basketball was considered for the 2016 Olympics but was scrapped when Rio de Janeiro had difficulty preparing for the Games.
Now, FIBA believes men’s and women’s tournaments in 3-on-3 are even better suited after skateboarding and sport climbing joined the Tokyo lineup last year.
“Now there is an urban cluster that has been created,” FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann told The Associated Press. “The best urban team sport is 3-on-3 street basketball. It would certainly be a perfect fit.”
Still, don’t expect two-time Olympic gold medalist LeBron James to seek a third title in the three-a-side game which already has a global tournament circuit.
“That’s probably a nice dream to have,” Baumann said in a recent interview, adding: “Our objective is to have similar and fantastic stars that come out of 3-on-3.”
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Paris seems favored to get the 2024 Olympics, with Los Angeles striking a deal to wait until 2028.
(UPDATE: 6/9/17) The 2020 Toyko Olympics will officially add 3-on-3 basketball to their slate of contests along with a few additional sports, according to the Associated Press.
The IOC added 3-on-3 basketball to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic program on Friday in an effort to give the games a more youthful and urban appeal.
“The dream of a path from the streets to the Olympic Games has become reality for all the basketball community,” said Patrick Baumann, the secretary general of basketball governing body FIBA.
An urban Tokyo venue for 3-on-3 basketball could be announced when the IOC executive board meets again in Lausanne on July 9-10, IOC sports director Kit McConnell said.
