ANDREW Sullivan insists yesterday’s team bonding trip to London’s Olympic Park can give Britain’s basketball stars the boost they need ahead of this summer’s vital Eurobasket qualifiers.
The Team GB skipper and Newcastle star leads his side into action against Hungary on Monday before a first home clash of the campaign against Macedonia on Tyneside.
And with less than two years until the 2012 Games begin, Sullivan feels there has never been a greater focus on building a basketball legacy in this country.
“The Olympic Park visit brings into focus everything we’re working towards,” said the excited Londoner. “In two years’ time I think every guy on this team wants to be stepping out onto the court wearing a GB vest. It’s very exciting and we all want to be part of the 2012 experience.
“I was there on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games a few years back and it was a very special occasion.
I can only imagine that day one of the London Olympics will be ten times as exciting.
“Two years in professional sport is nothing and 2012 will come around before we’ve had chance to catch our breath. In less than two years we’ll be getting ready and putting the finishing touches to our Olympic campaign – that’s an incredible thought.”
With NBA stars Luol Deng and Pops Mensah-Bonsu in their ranks, Team GB are already being tipped as medal outsiders on their home court.
But Sullivan insists the Olympic competition is just a small part of what 2012 can do for the British game.
“The Games themselves will be a phenomenal showcase for British basketball, but what we do beforehand and what we do afterwards is even more important in terms of bringing the sport into the public eye.
“Obviously people will be interested in the basketball tournament itself with teams like Spain, the US and Argentina in town. But we need to promote the men’s and women’s national teams as squads with long-term ambition – we can piggy back on to London 2012 but it’s all about the bigger picture.”
Sullivan and Team GB arrive into Newcastle next week and the star-studded roster will be based at the city’s Sport Central venue from Thursday.
Northumbria University’s £30m sporting hub stages its first major event on Sunday, August 8 (tip-off 4pm).
Tickets for the game against an experienced Macedonia side are still available by visiting gameongb.com
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