Half the Olympic teams are from Europe

[cadeceus]

Is it fair that 6 of the 12 Olympic teams are from Europe?

I think there should be more fair representation from around the world.

[alermac]

Is it fair that 6 of the 12 Olympic teams are from Europe?

I think there should be more fair representation from around the world.

Well, they earned it, so it can't be bad. Africans, Americans, Asians and Oceanics had their chance.

[Z.A.L.I.A.]

Europe gets only 2 teams (Russia, Lithuania)

+ the rest:

World champion - Spain
qualified in the pre-olympic championship - Greece, Germany, Croatia

I believe it's fair enough. These teams earned their spot!

[Joyrider]

I think it's fair...
After all, it's 50-50.

Europe-Rest of the world

[Federoy]

I don't like that half the field is European either, but Germany, Croatia and Greece earned their spots. I would rather have the best teams from around the world be represented, and if they happend to be from Europe then so be it. As far as competitiveness, this will be the greatest Olympic basketball tournament ever.

[sinobball]

Actually Iran did not deserve a spot.

[rikhardur]

Actually Iran did not deserve a spot.

What do you mean?

[Buducnost PG]

I can´t believe this. How can somebody say that is not fair, that we have 6 teams from europe? If we look at the pure quality, then it should be more then 6 teams.

But the best would be to incrase the number from 12 to 16.

[sinobball]

What do you mean?

You know what I mean, they wouldn't be there if China was not hosting.

[ArnoldPettybone]

I think there should be more fair representation from around the world.

2008 Olympic qualifiers-Europe vs rest of world:13W-1L...

[JGX]

Well, they earned it, so it can't be bad. Africans, Americans, Asians and Oceanics had their chance.

Indeed, they won their way in on the court, the rest of the world has nothing to complain about.

After the US and Argentina, the rest of the Americas teams just aren't that good these days.

[Picek]

Is it fair that 6 of the 12 Olympic teams are from Europe?

I think there should be more fair representation from around the world.

well, the best bball is played in Europe.. sportswise..
so I don't think this is such a bad thing..
other teams have the same opportunity like Germany and Croatia but they didn't take it..

[KWSN-Men]

Is it fair that 6 of the 12 Olympic teams are from Europe?

I think there should be more fair representation from around the world.

I think one could say that there should be a more fair representation of basketball, hence more European teams...

[Federoy]

But the best would be to incrase the number from 12 to 16.

I totally agree. They should expand the Olympic tournament by including four teams. I would add one extra birth to each continential zone and still hold the Olympic qualifying tournament.

For 2012 London Games

Americas: 3
Europe: 3
Asia: 2
Africa: 2
Oceania: 1
World Champion: 1
Host country: 1
Pre-Olympic tourny births: 3

Personally, I would like to see the Asia Zone split into two regions: Middle East/Central Asia and East Asia/Oceania. FIBA should eliminate Australia and New Zealand's automatic bid and force them to merge with East Asia.

[fasoulaki]

Is it fair that 6 of the 12 Olympic teams are from Europe?

I think there should be more fair representation from around the world.

Lets come back to this discussion when we see how many european and non european teams will qualify for the quarter final of the olympic basketball tournament!

[rikhardur]

You know what I mean, they wouldn't be there if China was not hosting.

I didn't, that's why I asked the question Now I understand.

[JGX]

I totally agree. They should expand the Olympic tournament by including four teams.

I doubt that will happen because of scheduling issues--with 12 teams you can play all six games in one building on the same day, with 16 teams you will need another venue.

Personally I like the contrast the between the World Championship which has a lot of teams, and the Olympics which is for the elite.

Personally, I would like to see the Asia Zone split into two regions: Middle East/Central Asia and East Asia/Oceania. FIBA should eliminate Australia and New Zealand's automatic bid and force them to merge with East Asia.

That seems rather unfair--you are going to take the dominant Asian team in China and put them together with two solid teams in Australia and New Zealand, and then you are going to form a new zone with teams that have never advanced past a group stage at world level? What would be the point?

Combining Asia with Oceania wouldn't be a bad idea though.

[PRSURF]

I think the europe teams earned their spots, but its not fair tha 6 teams are from Europe.

Puerto Rico to qualified played versus 4 consecutive european teams + Cameroon, thats how fiba wants other team from other place in the world in the Olympics?

[Federoy]

I doubt that will happen because of scheduling issues--with 12 teams you can play all six games in one building on the same day, with 16 teams you will need another venue.

Personally I like the contrast the between the World Championship which has a lot of teams, and the Olympics which is for the elite.

You're right. Logistically, it would be difficult to have 16 participants playing in a three week span, unless you started the competition before the opening ceremonies (doesn't Olympic soccer do that?) It was just a thought. It's a fine line between ensuring the world is perportionally represented and gathering the best of the best.

That seems rather unfair--you are going to take the dominant Asian team in China and put them together with two solid teams in Australia and New Zealand, and then you are going to form a new zone with teams that have never advanced past a group stage at world level? What would be the point?

Combining Asia with Oceania wouldn't be a bad idea though.

Why should these two countries year in and year out be given an automatic birth? Make them earn it. Iran, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia may not be world beaters, but they're not garbage sides and they're as good if not better than most East Asian countries (remember, it was Lebanon and Iran that played in the Asian Champ. finals). In my estimation they deserve their own seperate zone.

[Ilya]

I think the europe teams earned their spots, but its not fair tha 6 teams are from Europe.

Puerto Rico to qualified played versus 4 consecutive european teams + Cameroon, thats how fiba wants other team from other place in the world in the Olympics?

Do you realise what you're saying? Let me make it clear for you. You're saying that since European teams are so hard to beat, you (or I don't know who) should be given a spot in the Olympics, which would be taken from a better team (one you couldn't beat in the qualifying tournament).

Sorry mate, but you had your chance and it was up to you. What should other countries, that have never been represented in the Olympics basketball, be saying? The spot was there for grabs. I liked the Puerto Rican team, but they made their own luck. Too bad.