Finland does not intend to apply for the right to host the Olympic basketball qualifiers.
Susigengi thanked the supporters for their support after the win over Venezuela. PDO
Sunday dawned peacefully at Susijeng’s lodge.
On Saturday, the team had gathered together for the dinner that concluded the World Cup project.
– Today’s youth is a lot smarter than in the old days, head of coaching Henrik Dettmann agreed to reveal about the evening.
The next day they aim for America Lauri Markkanen. Sean Sheldon, Jacob Grandison, Olivier Nkamhoua, Alex Murphy and Miro Little already headed to Naha Airport, the capital of Okinawa.
At least a seat from next summer’s Olympic qualifying tournament will be packed for the trip home.
Dettmann is the right person to talk about the Olympic dream, because it was he who developed and ran through the current qualifying model, where the last four places are decided in four separate mini-tournaments.
– The previous competition system was such that not everyone was allowed to participate, Dettmann refers, for example, to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic qualification.
“It wasn’t fair”
Susijengi also took part in the previous World Cup tournament (2014), but then only the champion (USA) got directly to the games. In the end, the European Championship finalists Spain and Lithuania and the three teams that won their own qualifying tournament (Serbia, Croatia, France) made it to the tournament.
At no point did Finland even qualify for the Olympics.
– It wasn’t fair. We stated that this is also a commercial activity. It is bad to sell a product that is stored under a tarp, Dettmann compared it to a convenience store.
He created together Antti Zittingin, Ari Tammivaaran and Mika Mäkelä with the new match system, which he also successfully presented to the decision-making bodies of the International Basketball Federation, Fiba.
– We commissioned a study in Jyväskylä and put it on Fiba’s table. After that, they had to admit that the land of the polar bears was going to be a good plan.
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Henrik Dettmann’s current title is head of coaching. Jenni Gästgivar
Finland has only played basketball at the Olympics once (1964).
– It’s a huge dream for Finnish basketball, Dettmann says about repeating the trick.
– And sport lives on dreams. The qualification also guarantees us good games for next summer. If we weren’t involved in this, it would be completely empty for us.
Expensive tournament
Fiba would like to distribute the rights to organize qualifying tournaments as widely as possible. Most recently, however, they were played in three European cities and one in Canada.
Dettmann suspects that realities will force Fiba to name at least two European hosts even now.
However, he says that Finland will not apply for the rights to organize the qualifying tournament.
It is surprising because Tampere would offer one of the most modern sports arenas in the world, the support culture belonging to Susijeng has already garnered international praise and the team’s actions on the field also bring sporting credibility.
In addition, it is difficult to underestimate the importance of the home advantage. All you have to do is watch Japan’s World Cup matches against Finland or Venezuela.
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The Nokia Arena audience record for sports events is held by Susijengi. Jenni Gästgivar
– Of course, organizing the tournament interests me. But those rights are so expensive that it is not worth taking such a commercial risk.
The standard of the hotels is not enough
Dettmann says that Fiba invoices about 2.5 million euros for arrangement rights.
– The matter will change if (minister of finance) Riikka Purra call For Kati Packalén (CEO of the Basketball Association) and promises that the state will bear the risk.
It’s not likely. In addition, Tampere will host one of the first blocks of the EC tournament in 2025.
– We think differently than other species. We don’t want to offer a sports app. If there are significant tournaments two years in a row, the latter one will easily turn out to be rabble.
The Olympic qualifying tournament will take place from 2 to 7 July 2024. The Paris Summer Games start on Friday, July 26.
– Generally, qualifying tournaments with such a schedule are organized in countries where the state finances such activities. Finland is not like that.
Dettmann brings up one more factor that would work against Tampere in the Fiba cabinets.
– The problem is also that there is not enough high-quality hotel capacity, Dettmann spins his head in the lobby of the Hilton, whose windows offer a view of the South China Sea.