Observers now know the list of 21 invited players — including 14 from the NBA such as Andrew Wiggins, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk and R.J. Barrett — from which will be selected the Canadian team for the Tokyo Olympics qualifying tournament June 29 to July 4 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The Canadian selection camp will be held June 16-24 in Tampa, Florida, under head coach Nick Nurse before the named players head to the Island. The NBA players invited to the Canadian camp are Wiggins (Golden State), Barrett (Knicks), Olynyk (Houston), Brooks (Memphis), Khem Birch (Raptors), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (New Orleans), Dwight Powell (Dallas), Oshae Brissett (Indiana), Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City), Cory Joseph (Detroit), Brandon Clarke (Memphis), Trey Lyles (San Antonio), Tristan Thompson (Boston) and Mychal Mulder (Golden State).
The question is if any fans will be allowed inside the Memorial Centre to watch them. The tournament dates straddle the announced July 1 start of the possibility of having spectators indoors, on a limited basis, for sports events in B.C. The return to full arenas won’t happen until after Sept. 7.
“It will be an incredibly hot ticket,” said Clint Hamilton, chair of the Victoria organizing committee,
It’s scarcity making it even more so. The organizing committee, acutely aware of the world pandemic situation, will be happy to get even a limited number of spectators. Victoria organizers paid $3 million for the right to host the tournament.
“Until this week’s announcement of scheduled re-starts by [provincial health officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry, the prospect of having spectators was not high,” said Hamilton.
“Now if it’s possible, the question is how many fans? Public safety remains the No. 1 priority.”
The tournament will be broadcast nationally by CBC.
Nearly 3,000 full tournament passes had been purchased when sales were cut-off in March of 2020 when the Tokyo Olympics were postponed one year. The IOC and Tokyo organizers remain adamant the delayed Games will proceed July 23 to Aug. 8.
Officials across all sports in B.C. are still sorting through Tuesday’s announcement of timelines. Hamilton said the organizing committee is in constant consultation with provincial health authorities. It goes to the federal level, also, since the Olympic qualifying tournament will require the entrance into the country of players, coaches and staff from six nations. The Victoria tournament has received the same international single-sport exemption awarded by the feds to the 2021 world junior hockey championship hosted by Edmonton this year in a bubble.
“This has required such a sophisticated level of preparation,” said Hamilton.
Glen Grunwald, president and CEO of Canada Basketball, thanked the Victoria organizing committee and Island, B.C. and federal medical authorities: “For their commitment and tireless efforts to host the Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria this summer. Everyone has demonstrated a tremendous sense of flexibility and resolve as we continue to navigate the shifting pandemic conditions on a daily basis. They are a special group of people.”
Canada is in Group A with Greece and China. Group B on Blanshard will feature Uruguay, Czech Republic and Turkey. The winner of the qualifier will advance to Tokyo and slot into Group A at the Olympics with the U.S., France and Iran.
The Victoria tournament is among the four last-chance qualifiers to fill out the final quartet of teams into 12-nation Olympic field. The other qualifying tournaments are being held over the same dates in Split, Croatia; Kaunas, Lithuania; and Belgrade, Serbia.
Canada is looking to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since captain Steve Nash of Victoria led the national team to the 2000 Sydney Summer Games.
