SHEFFIELD (Development) - Sport England today announced a major review of the way basketball is structured and administered. The process will help ensure that the sport can capitalise on its growing popularity and recent success at international level.
This will be the third review of basketball in the past five years and follows reviews by Sport England in 2001 and 2003 (the Fundamental Review). The review will be chaired Tony Mallin, a financial expert who is the CEO and founder of STAR Capital Partners and a former vice chairman of Hambros Bank. He is also a past chairman of the Finance and Leasing Association and has advised government on Private Finance Initiative (PFI) policy.
Commenting on the announcement of the review, Keith Mair, England Basketball's Chief Executive, said: "England Basketball welcomes the opportunity to participate in the independent review into the way basketball is structured and administered.
"Our statistics show a significant degree of recovery and growth over the past three years for basketball in England and we are fully committed to cooperating with the members of the review panel.
"In particular, we are keen to continue to work closely with the representatives of Scottish and Welsh basketball towards producing competitive teams representing Great Britain from this year onwards, in order to compete at the London 2012 Olympics and beyond.
"The issue of providing facilities in order to enable more people, especially youngsters, to play basketball in the inner cities is a major priority in England Basketball's plans."
The review will be led by Sport England on behalf of the DCMS. UK Sport is also supporting the review, which has the full backing of Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn MP. Leading organisations involved in the sport have been invited to participate in and contribute fully to the review process.
This will focus on the long term and sustainable expansion and development of basketball at club and grass roots level, as well as supporting UK Sport's work with the sport in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Review team chairman Tony Mallin said that the sport was at a crucial stage in its development and had a superb opportunity to build on recent high profile successes at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games; "Basketball is a sport with huge potential to grow and develop.
"It appeals to young people, can be played almost anywhere and has a flourishing network of clubs and associations across the country. The encouraging performances of England's men and women at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, underlines this opportunity.
"Now, we need to make sure that success is capitalised upon."
The Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn MP, said: "Basketball itself has asked for this review, so it is essential that all of their stakeholders take an active part in the process." Paul Blake, chairman of the British Basketball League, also welcomed the review process, saying: "We are pleased to be involved in the review and the development of a unified strategic direction for the sport."
Review group chairman Tony Mallin will be supported by a highly experienced team of senior figures from sport, business and finance, who make up the review group. Its members will include: John Eady; managing director, Knight, Kavanagh & Page; Dave Henwood; director, Sports Business; Stephen Redwood: president and CEO, Mercer Delta UK; Michael Sorkin; vice chairman, N M Rothschild & Sons; Neil Tunnicliffe; director, Wharton Consulting.