Which countries should be given wildcards for FIBA World Championship 2010 in Turkey?
Quote:The criteria for the wild cards
* In order to be invited, a team must have participated in its 2009 FIBA Zone Qualifying Championship.
* There can be a maximum number of three teams from a given FIBA Zone.
In addition to the two above-mentioned requirements, FIBA shall take into consideration the following aspects:
Sporting Aspects
* Popularity of basketball in the country
* Quality and sporting results of the country's national team
* Quality of work by the National Federation
Economic Aspects
* Involvement of local television station(s) and/or competition(s) in domestic and international basketball
* Importance of the country to FIBA's marketing and television partners
* Importance of the country to the Organizers of the FIBA World Championship
Lithuania, Russia, Lebanon and of course Germany <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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as many euro teams as possible.
great britain will get their chance in 2012 and maybe even 2011
Lithuania, Russia, Germany
[quote name="TalkBasket.net"]The criteria for the wild cards set FIBA might be not the only factor to decide which countries are given the opportunity to play in World Championship next year. Vladas Garastas, LKF president, told to lrytas.lt that FIBA unofficially revealed that they are willing to give wild cards to those countries that are prepared to pay for them.
Going even further Garastas said that Russians declared that they will send a money bag to FIBA in case they don't qualify directly for the World Championship Turkey 2010 and that's what happened in Eurobasket 2009.[/quote]
LKF general secretary Mindaugas BalÄiÅ«nas visited FIBA to talk about the wild card. FIBA officially told him that unless we pay for the wild card, or in other words if we buy it, we are not getting it. This is a joke and a disgrace for the world's basketball. What it has in common with their official criteria? Nothing. So basically any country that can offer more money than others can easily secure a wild card? LKF president Vladas Garastas told before the meeting that we won't pay anything to get a wild card.
This is an absurd. It would be very bad but not that bad as it is now if they had this as an official requirement. Then we could say it's too bad that we can't buy it and that the requirement is not fair. But now it's done behind the scenes. I hate such things whether it's in basketball or in other area.
A thought comes to my mind would it be different if a nation ranked 6th in the world would have at least one member in FIBA or FIBA Europe. Would there be more backing to Lithuania? We will never find out. Isn't it funny that all basketball nations have members in FIBA Europe board except Lithuania? Despite all our success on the court we have no impact on FIBA or FIBA Europe.
My personal opinion is that there should be no wild cards at all. All teams would qualify directly based on their sporting results. Or there could be some qualification tournament before WC. And if a team fails to qualify then it's their fault.
LKF position is also changing accordingly. Before Eurobasket the thought about missing WC was very unpleasant because NT would have no competitive games. Lately it's not that bad as we will play 'some friendlies' next summer. And when the wild cards will be given to other nations I am sure that LKF will say that it's a good thing to have a free summer in order to rebuild NT and try new players.
If it is true it is very sad for fiba of course...what is next? open bidding over wildcards? what is that? Christie's auction company or sth? And if not bidding is there a fixed price? on what criteria do you sell a wild card? And if there is a fixed price and at some point nobody wants to buy it, what happens then? A WC with less teams or will fiba offer a discount? Anyway... selling wildcards is pure crap. It should be decided solely on sportive reasons.
Now the price has slipped out to the media. It's 0.5M-1M euros. Supposedly FIBA would give a discount to Lithuania and would ask "only" 0.5M euros for a wild card.
This is so pathetic. FIBA should officially say that they are selling wild cards. But the reaction of basketball fans would be very negative so they don't do that. A bunch of f***ers.
An additional qualifying tournament should be played, plain and simple. Now selling a place for a team in the WC? <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crazy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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One of a rare moments when I agree with Garastas's comments. This is what he said about FIBA's decision to sell wild cards: "If it's money's dictatorship in the world, then they all can go to hell." He was referring to FIBA obviously <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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It is reported that up to 18 countries are lining up to make their bids.
United Arab Emirated to buy a wild card and spend some of all that oil money <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crazy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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Cheapass Lithuanians should pay and play. You even get a 50% discount and complain? <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crazy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
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FIBA made it known officially about their sellout
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/10/fwc/...index.html
Quote:Late Registration Fee
* FIBA will require from the invited teams the payment of a late registration fee prior to the Central Board decision. The amounts collected will be used for the promotion of basketball through FIBAâs International Basketball Foundation.
Lithuania, Russia, Lebanon.
Selling wild cards is just disgusting. But no one can say no to it can they? :\