Basketball New Zealand

Singapore Youth Olympic Games logo

New Zealand has been confirmed as one of 20 teams in the men’s draw of next year’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

A FIBA Central Board meeting in Turkey has accepted Basketball New Zealand’s entry into the tournament from August 14-26, to be contested in the youth-friendly FIBA33 (three-on-three) format.

Players eligible were born between January 1, 1993 and December 31, 1994. Coaches can be no older than 35.

In an effort to have as many nations as possible participating in the event, only two will field both men’s and women’s teams – hosts Singapore and Olympic champions USA, the only country ranked in the world’s top four for both men and women.

New Zealand is the only Oceania nation in the men’s draw, while Australia and Vanuatu feature among the women.

Basketball New Zealand has closed off expressions of interest for the position of head coach and hopes to make that appointment before Christmas. BBNZ has also secured Olympic Solidarity Funding to support the selection and preparation phases of its YOG campaign .

The teams confirmed for the YOG draws are …

Men
Argentina, Central African Republic, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Israel, Lithuania, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, USA, US Virgin Islands

Women
Angola, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Korea, Mali, Russia, Singapore, USA, Vanuata, one more tbc