Press release: International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF)
Cover photo credit: Christopher Cox Photography
The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) are pleased to announce the 12 national wheelchair basketball teams that will compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
6 men’s teams – England, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada, Malaysia – and 6 women’s teams – England, South Africa, Scotland, Australia, Canada, Kenya – will make history being part of the wheelchair basketball 3×3 competition making its debut at the Commonwealth Games.
The wheelchair basketball competition will take place at Smithfield, formerly the site of Birmingham’s Wholesale Markets, in an integrated programme with the running basketball game, and will run in a two-group format followed by semi-finals and finals.
The groups were drawn at the Library of Birmingham on Tuesday 17 May 2022 hosted by Birmingham 2022 and overseen by the IWBF Chair of Competition Charlie Bethel, with guests including Team England Wheelchair Basketball 3×3 Head Coaches, Mathew Foden and Lucas Warburton.
In the women’s competition, the first four teams were drawn out with Canada and Kenya in Group A and Australia and South Africa in Group B. As hosts, England then got to choose which group to be placed in. They chose to be placed in Group A, meaning Scotland were placed in Group B.
In the men’s competition, Malaysia and South Africa were drawn in Group A, with Australia and Canada being drawn in Group B. Again, hosts England decided to be placed in Group A, with Northern Ireland going into Group B.
IWBF’s President, Ulf Mehrens, said: “It’s great to see such a mix of nations in the line-up for the wheelchair basketball 3×3 competition in Birmingham 2022, from well-established to new upcoming teams. This is a what we hoped 3×3 would bring to the game of wheelchair basketball, new opportunities for smaller and developing nations.
“As a relatively new discipline for wheelchair basketball, we are extremely excited to be able to showcase it at such a well renowned multi-sport event as the Commonwealth Games and would like to thank everyone involved in CGF, Birmingham 2022, and FIBA for driving this forward.
“I’d like to wish all the teams good luck in their preparations and look forward to seeing them in Birmingham in July.”
Matt Kidson, Director of Sport said: “It’s fantastic news that we now have confirmation of the men’s and women’s draw for the wheelchair basketball 3×3 tournament at Birmingham 2022.
“This will be the first time that wheelchair basketball 3×3 has ever been part of the Commonwealth Games so these teams will be making history in Birmingham. The competition venue is currently under construction at Smithfield, which is in the heart of the host city, and is a location which we know will come alive at Games time.
“Basketball 3×3 and wheelchair basketball 3×3 tickets are selling very fast so I would urge anyone who wants to be there to witness this historic tournament to buy their tickets now.”
CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “Congratulations to the outstanding men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams who have qualified for Birmingham 2022. We are set for an historic competition as wheelchair basketball 3×3 makes it’s Commonwealth Games debut. We look forward to an inspiring competition at Smithfield, right in the heart of Birmingham’s city centre, showcasing our commitment to a world class, fully integrated competition.”
The schedule will follow in the next few weeks. Tickets for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are currently available at www.birmingham2022.com
Press release: International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF)
