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Canada bids to host Olympic basketball qualifier News Sports Entertainment Radio TV My Region Member Centre Login Sign UpHalifax (Shearwater) Change City9c Tomorrow0c Snow and blowing snow Hockey Headlines Scoreboard Standings Stats NHL Schedule Teams Players Hockey Night in Canada Highlights Fantasy Pool FIFA World Cup Vancouver Now Football Headlines CFL Scoreboard CFL Standings CFL Stats CFL Teams NFL Scoreboard NFL Standings NFL Stats NFL Teams NFL Players Video Alpine Skiing Curling Figure Skating Basketball NBA Scoreboard Standings Stats Teams Players Basketball News Feed Baseball MLB Scoreboard Standings Stats Teams Players Baseball News Feed Soccer MLS Scoreboard MLS Standings International Stats Soccer News Feed Amateur Sports Golf Tennis Auto Racing Story Tools EMAIL PRINT Text Size S M L XL REPORT TYPO SEND YOUR FEEDBACK Canada bids to host Olympic basketball qualifierLast Updated Wednesday December 9 2009 438 PM ET Comments0Recommend9The Canadian Press Canadas national basketball program enjoyed a successful 2009 qualifying the mens and womens senior and cadet squads for the world championships (Ricardo ArduengoAssociated Press)The road to the 2012 London Olympics for mens national basketball teams in the Western Hemisphere could go through CanadaCanada is one of five bidders for the 2011 FIBA Americas tournament the qualifier for the London GamesI am very excited about the opportunity for our team to play at home Canadian mens coach Leo Rautins said in a releaseOur guys the Road Warriors play all around the world and rarely get a chance to compete in front of friends family and Canadas passionate basketball fan baseThere is no better way for us to prepare for the chance to compete at the 2012 Olympic GamesCanada is bidding against Mexico Brazil Argentina and Puerto Rico to host the tournamentEach of those countries hosted a FIBA Americas event in 2009 the most recent being the mens world championship qualifier in San Juan Puerto Rico where Canada finished fourth to earn its berth in the world tournamentThis is a great opportunity for Canada to host some of the best basketball players in the world said Wayne Parrish Canada Basketballs executive director and CEOWith the recent successes of our mens and womens national teams around the globe and the rise in popularity of our great sport right here at home the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship is an ideal forum to showcase Canadas passion for the game of basketballSuccessful yearThe national program enjoyed a successful 2009 qualifying the mens and womens senior and cadet squads for their respective 2010 world championships Canada was one of only five countries to qualify all four teamsFIBA Americas will provide the bidding countries with tournament criteria details in January Canada Basketball and the other federations have until March 19 2010 to confirm their...