CitySport provided a base for the men’s and women’s Team USA Olympic basketball teams as they Team USA prepared for the 2024 Olympic Games.
City, University of London’s sports facility, CitySport, provided a base for the men’s and women’s Team USA Olympic basketball teams (USAB) 19-23 July as Team USA prepared for the 2024 Olympic Games held in Paris this summer. Both squads were visiting London for friendly fixtures, in which the men played South Sudan and Germany, whilst the women also competed against their German counterparts.
The teams took advantage of CitySport’s two court sports hall, with technical and tactical court-based training. Some court sessions allowed invitation-only access to the public and a host of media outlets, providing lucky individuals with insight into preparation for elite sports’ most prestigious competition. American Ambassador to London, Jane Hartley, also attended to wish the players luck ahead of their departure to Paris.
CitySport was the ideal choice, featuring one of the largest indoor halls in central London with seating for over 300 spectators. The venue has a proven track record of hosting large-scale basketball events, including the Boston Celtics in 2018, NCAA college games, and an NBA showcase in 2023.
NBA and WNBA star players were in attendance, with the likes of Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, and LeBron James in the men’s team and Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Brittany Griner for the women, showing their skills in London.
“It has been a privilege to host some of the world’s most talented athletes at CitySport over the past week as both squads prepared for the pre-Olympic warm-up games. We now wish them the best of luck in the opening fixtures against Serbia and Japan in Paris itself”, said Tom Edwards, Head of Sport and Leisure for City, University of London. He went on to say, “being able to offer a facility of the quality suitable for Team USA, especially in central London, for our students and local community is something we are extremely proud of. We are continuously growing our programme and will be increasing the number of basketball opportunities over the coming months”.
If you'd like to play basketball or many other activities on the same courts as Team USA, please visit our website. CitySport, central London's largest student sports and fitness facility, offers a state of the art gym, wide range of classes, a virtual cycling studio, and a sports hall.
Photos credit: USA Basketball.