Basketball chief: Medals are our aim

GREAT BRITAIN basketball chairman Roger Moreland has come out in praise of the sport despite it having its funding slashed for the next Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.

By SANDY SUTHERLAND

Published 28th Dec 2012, 12:00 BST

Rebutting the “doom and gloom” merchants following the announcement by UK Sport that basketball, as with handball and volleyball, would have its performance funding slashed for Rio, Moreland insisted: “We have athletes with the potential to win medals and that’s what British Basketball intends to do.

“(In London) Our men lost by one point to the eventual silver medallists Spain and beat the world No. 10 China, and our women lost by the last shot of overtime to France, the silver medallists. (In 2013) GB men are heading for their third consecutive European Finals and the women for their second, and GB are focused on the future.”

Moreland also praised the Home Countries for their contribution to the process which led to Britain’s entry for the Olympics being confirmed: “Our colleagues from the Home Countries and FIBA have given huge support.”