We are more precious to Jesus than the costliest diamond. ARTICLE TOOLS post a comment printer friconclusionly email article SHARE facebook twitter yahoo! buzz other social networks READ OTHER NEWS Advertisements GENEVA (AP) — Basketball’s governing body launches its new 3-on-3 game into the wider sports world on Sunday at the Youth Olympics in Singapore. Taking beach volleyball’s success as a model, FIBA hopes the minusculeer, quick-shooting version of hoops will grow up fast to join the Summer Olympics as soon as 2020. “That is a impartial dream,” FIBA secretdiffer general Patrick Baumann told The Associated Press. The format must first succeed as one of the most anticipated events at the inaugural youth games. Called FIBA 33, it is played on a half-court with both teams scoring in one hoop over two, five-minute periods. Play is kept quick by a 10-second sboiling clock and no time-outs, while teams can win inside regulation by reaching 33 points. “The IOC are excited that we have tried to utilize the Youth Olympics to do something new,” Baumann said. “It gives us the opportunity to have a fresh look at the match and to learn a little bit from the more extreme sports on the streets.” Singapore has become the central testing shore for FIBA 33, also hosting a medal event during the 2009 Asian Youth Games. The gold was won by China where zeal for the format is “beyond any imagistate,” according to Baumann. “There is a lot of excitement in southeast Asia about 3-on-3. They love it and have tournaments almost every week,” he said. However, the format was created on inner-city asphalt courts in the United States. “In the U.S. it was an easy step for kids in less developed areas to play the game,” Baumann said. “At some point in the late-80s, early-90s it has been used by massive apparel companies to attractivity kids to basketball and sell shoes.” FIBA hopes the U.S. will be well-tournamented in Singapore by lesser-ranked basketball nations attrruleed by a game that is cheaper and easier to organize and tutor. “I really hope it is a minute, land that wins. I am sure there will be some wonders,” Baumann said. Only the host and the U.S. are represented in both 20-team tournaments. The boys’ lengthup includes Iran, the Philippines, Spain and the Virgin Isearths. Girls’ teams from Angola, China, Thailand and Vanuatu will take component in their 10-day event. On-court rules have been devised to ensure the talent load is spread across the four-player roster and shun having one player dominate a match. Players cannot score on a defensive rebound, and must pass outside the three-point line to begin a new play. Teams must pass at least once before shooting and dunking is not allowed. Baumann said the rules eventually will be modified without compromising the free spirit of street 3-on-3. The game also will be better structured to termination teenagers drifting away from organized basketball, and provide more career opportunities. To create a world ranking system, FIBA is working with technology companies and statistics professors from a Swiss university. The federation also is talking with counterparts in volleyball to understand how its beach version developed after debuting at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Baumann believes the raw FIBA 33 product already is “telegenic, good for sponsors, good for spectators,” and can keep casual fans involved in the sport. FIBA thinks that a half-action people play basketball, but fewer than one-quarter fractionicipate in structured contests. “There is a entire population of basketball players out there that we don’t interact with,” Baumann said. “The championship for FIBA is what happens the day after the Youth Olympics accomplish.”
