Basketball chief John Feehan aims to develop high performance

Ireland's Michelle Clarke, Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan and Ireland's John Carroll at the announcement that TG4 will broadcast the Super League finals and FIBA EuroBasket internationals this year. Photo: Evan Treacy/Inpho

Barry Lennon

March 16 2023 02:30 AM

Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan remains “hopeful” that the sport can develop a high-performance element as talks with Sport Ireland continue to establish one.

The State body does not invest in the sport at a high-performance level but are “looking at basketball’s potential” for such an approach.

Similar units have been key to Olympic success in boxing and rowing, who will receive €965,000 and over €1 million this year respectively.

“Hopefully, we will get on the right pathway for them (Sport Ireland),” Feehan said.

“We have done presentations with them and they’ve been very good about it. They’re definitely looking at basketball that has potential for high performance.

“So for things like 3X3, which is our shortened version of the game, there is genuine optimism that we can get into contention for Olympics and that kind of thing.”

While the senior national teams have recently returned to the top level of European Championship, the EuroBasket, Feehan believes the three-man basketball can provide a “quicker route” to high performance.

“From one level you have to say, what is high performance? Is it actually winning medals or is it bringing your ranking up from 50 up to 30?

“Really at the end of the day, the EuroBasket is fantastic, but it’s fantastic for our sport itself. It’s where Ireland can compete with all the top countries in Europe.”

The former Six Nations executive was speaking at the announcement that TG4 will broadcast another eight basketball games, including league finals and Ireland internationals.

“You can’t get away from it (terrestrial TV),” Feehan said. “Everyone else pays attention to it whether they mean to or not, they do.”

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