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Mike Chan

Journalists covering the 3x3 basketball at the Paris Olympics are getting in a lot of exercise.
Assuming you get off at the Madeleine station on metro lines 8, 12 or 14, which is among the closest few to the huge venue at La Concorde Plaza, which also hosts breaking, BMX freestyle and skateboarding, the journey starts at exit 3 on Rue Duphot.
A 700-metre walk leads to the main entrance of a venue that covers more than 20 acres, bigger than Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, but which is not the entrance intended for accredited personnel.
Another 500m south to the Tuileries Garden and through security is the venue’s media centre, which offers 200 tabled seats.
To enjoy any real action, however, there is another 500m walk back to where they just came from, just behind the main entrance designed only for ticketed holders and no one else.

From Madeleine’s turnstile, I spent 25 minutes walking under the scorching sun, where the temperature must have been closer to 30 degrees at 5.30pm on Tuesday.
I found my way to the venue and spent a few moments under the water mists only to find it didn’t help much because of the long queues waiting to do the same, before and after me.
Climbing stairs to the top of the 3,800-seat, beautifully assembled temporary open arena was next but I failed, miserably, to last longer than five minutes at the press tribune because there was no over roof.
Don’t get me wrong. The view from the tribune was magnificent to enjoy the fast-paced action, something the Hong Kong organisers, who hold their events in Victoria Park, could consider copying.
The press tables there are always placed away from the main tent where journalists can just about hear the spectators’ cheers, and there is no television on which to watch the action.
That had been the case for the first two Fiba 3x3 World Tours in the city, as well as the FIBA Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Hong Kong in April. One might wonder if there would be any changes or improvements for the Fiba World Tour Finals in November, that is if the local organisers have paid attention to the Games.
Back at the magnificent plaza, which costs €24 for a single-entry ticket to enjoy the Urban Park, I met Hongkonger referee Edmond Ho Ming-tat, the crew chief of the Games, and he admitted to “enjoying the perks” of calling only the evening matches, away from the heatwave and the vicious sun above.


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The view from the press box for 3x3 basketball at the Paris Olympics is magnificent. Photo: Mike Chan

Urban Park at La Concorde Plaza hosts four Games events - 3x3 basketball, breaking, BMX freestyle and skateboarding. Photo: Mike Chan

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Sport

Basketball

Paris Olympics 2024

Hong Kong

Getting to venue is a bit of a trek, but temporary facility has all the things that could make Victoria Park tournament great


Getting to venue is a bit of a trek, but temporary facility has all the things that could make Victoria Park tournament great.


FIBA (International Basketball Federation)

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Opinion

Opinion | Postcard from Paris: 3x3 basketball a lesson Hong Kong organisers would do well to learn

Getting to venue is a bit of a trek, but temporary facility has all the things that could make Victoria Park tournament great