A FIBA delegation headed by Secretary General Patrick Baumann has visited the construction site of the Wukesong Arena in Beijing, which will host the basketball at the 2008 Olympic Games.

The works at the Wukesong Arena are well advanced, with the delegation gaining a good impression of the interior and exterior of the home of basketball for the Beijing Games.

The venue has been constructed following the recommendations of the FIBA Study Centre, starting with the planning phase in early 2003, and is a fully functional basketball arena that will ensure the running of a world-class venue for Chinese basketball after the Games.

"We were very impressed by the progress made during the past six months and we look forward to the opening of the building that is projected for October this year," Baumann said after the visit.

"We look forward to the Olympic test event in April 2008, where we can see the building in full function."

The venue will have a spectator capacity of 18,000, two fully equipped warm-up courts and state of the art facilities for VIP's, media and competition management.

The FIBA delegation included Mr. Aldo Vitale from the FIBA Study Centre as well as FIBA Central Board member Ms Mabel Ching. The tour was guided by Mr. Liu Zhong Yi, the General Manager for the Wukesong Culture and Sports Centre, who is responsible for the construction of the venue.

- Article courtesy of www.fiba.com