Economic effects of the coronavirus on the basketball community

By ALAN WALLS

Welcome to the eighth edition of The International Basketball Opinion, the world’s newest and only blog specifically dedicated to international basketball news, business and current events.

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe the coronavirus pandemic is causing human and economic loss and suffering on scales we have not seen since the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918.

The global sports industry is no exception with amateur and professional leagues as well as sporting federations around the world suspending practices and competitions, while others gone to the extreme of completely shutting down for 2020. The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games were even suspended until 2021.

Here I share some very interesting articles I have gathered recently regarding the effects of the suspension of the Games on FIBA, American overseas player contracts and pay issues, negotiations between the Australian NBL and its players, how different African countries are dealing with the economic repercussions and the pandemic's effect on community basketball in Victoria, Australia.

Enjoy!

FIBA discussing Olympic Games contribution with IOC

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is in regular contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with the receipt of its Olympic Games contribution under discussion, FIBA told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"FIBA is in regular contact with the IOC and we are in discussions with them on all matters related to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games. The question of payment in relation to the IOC contribution is currently being discussed," FIBA said.

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FIBA expecting shortfall in 2020 because of coronavirus crisis and Olympic postponement

A spokesperson for FIBA told insidethegames the worldwide governing body "clearly expect to face reduced cash flow this year as a result of the crisis".

The spokesperson declined to reveal the exact amount the organization expects to lose but said the shortfall "will depend on the evolution of the pandemic, its depth and duration and its impact on our partners".

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FIBA's BAT issues virus-related guidance for international play

FIBA's Basketball Arbitration Tribunal (BAT), the legal body charged with resolving labor and financial disputes among international teams, players, agents and coaches, has issued guidelines outlining its intentions for future cases affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Given the extraordinary situation caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic and in order to provide greater legal certainty to the basketball community, the Guidelines have been issued by the BAT President Prof. Dr. Ulrich Haas, the BAT Vice-President Raj Parker, and all BAT Arbitrators," FIBA said in a statement posted to its website. "They are intended to provide ... guidance in proceedings and help facilitate amicable settlements."

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Australian NBL to slash salaries by up to 50%

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause widespread disruption to the global economy, forcing the Australian NBL and other leagues to cut costs.

In a business decision announced on Sunday, the Australian NBL, the circuit’s nine teams and the Australian Basketball Players’ Association finalized a salary plan for the 2020-21 campaign.

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The financial hole coronavirus ripped in African sport

Basketball’s popularity in Africa is growing, especially with NBA engagement on the continent. This month would have seen the inaugural Basketball Africa League finals held in Kigali, Rwanda. But they have been postponed indefinitely.

Nigerian club Rivers Hoopers is one of the 12 teams in the 2020 Basketball Africa League.

They, like most basketball clubs in Africa, are state-owned and run - and this means some professional basketball players take upside jobs to supplement their monthly pay.

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Americans playing overseas fear economic fallout

Even before the coronavirus outbreak, Devin Sweetney knew nothing was guaranteed when it came to getting paid for playing overseas.

The 32-year-old American said the Greek basketball team he played for this season still owes him “thousands of dollars.” And with sports shut down around the world because of the pandemic, Sweetney is thinking more about his long-term future.

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Victoria, Australia: Basketball community facing unique challenges

Getting the next Ben Simmons, Liz Cambage, Andrew Gaze or Penny Taylor to play an organized game of hoops may appear to be difficult in the near future, but the Victorian basketball community are fighting to save the grassroots game in spite of the greatest threat to sport in Australian history.

With the postponement of basketball from 13 March due to COVID-19, the basketball landscape across Victoria and Australia has taken a huge hit, but it’s not just the professional leagues and international events that have been devastated.

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Author Alan Walls is an American international basketball coach and administrator with over 25 years of experience on the youth, high school, NCAA, professional and national team levels in 16 countries and on five continents.  Walls has worked with the national federations of Turkey, Romania, Palestine, Mongolia, Kenya and El Salvador as well as coached or conducted camps and clinics throughout the United States – including his native Hawai’i – Mexico, Argentina, China, Hong Kong and Israel. Walls is the founder and General-Secretary of the United Nations of Basketball (2020 launch).