Which is more highly regarded, WBC or Olympics?

[Jon_Koncak]

The Olympics.

[NorCal]

Liam Canny, who called the games in Izmir for the W.C., wrote the following on http://www.thepaintedarea.blogspot.com/

Liam Canny, who became something of a cult star for his spirited calls of the Group D games in Izmir, appeared on the Sept. 5 version of the Daily Dime Live on ESPN.com, and wrote something which caught my eye:
I want to give the DDL fans a window into the minds of the players that I gathered in a conversation with one of the technical directors of one of the national teams in the tourney .

I asked why so many NBA players (Parker, Noah, Gasol...) had withdrawn from this tourney. The technical director told me that this is the order of preference for players from European teams:
1. Olympic games
2. EuroBasket in the year in which Olympic berths are won
3. World Championships
4. EuroBasket tourneys in non-Olympic qualifying years

I was surprised by that answer but FIBA have a problem because they ask pro basketball players to play international tournaments every summer. Soccer doesn't do that. FIBA need to give the issue some thought.

So according to his sources the World Championships not only fall beneath the Olymics in importance but also below the Eurobasket in the years in which Olympic berths are won.
What do you European posters believe? Agree, disagree?

[GustavoGanso]

I think the WC format is better.... 24 teams... more groups, games...

but the basketball played in Olympics is better... the teams play with his all top players.

[Mindozas]

Liam Canny, who called the games in Izmir for the W.C., wrote the following on http://www.thepaintedarea.blogspot.com/

Liam Canny, who became something of a cult star for his spirited calls of the Group D games in Izmir, appeared on the Sept. 5 version of the Daily Dime Live on ESPN.com, and wrote something which caught my eye:
I want to give the DDL fans a window into the minds of the players that I gathered in a conversation with one of the technical directors of one of the national teams in the tourney .

I asked why so many NBA players (Parker, Noah, Gasol...) had withdrawn from this tourney. The technical director told me that this is the order of preference for players from European teams:
1. Olympic games
2. EuroBasket in the year in which Olympic berths are won
3. World Championships
4. EuroBasket tourneys in non-Olympic qualifying years

I was surprised by that answer but FIBA have a problem because they ask pro basketball players to play international tournaments every summer. Soccer doesn't do that. FIBA need to give the issue some thought.

So according to his sources the World Championships not only fall beneath the Olymics in importance but also below the Eurobasket in the years in which Olympic berths are won.
What do you European posters believe? Agree, disagree?

There's nothing to agree or disagree with, it's a fact

[washcloud]

Here in the U.S. we always hear that winning the World Championships is considered a higher honor than winning the Olympics in most countries.
Is that true?

...with the well-known exception of Soccer, I do not think so. Here's why :
The Olympic Games is seen as a whole. I mean it's "all the sports" taking place, considered as one event. Which means more people are gonna be watching "this event". So when it comes to the general public's idea, each and every sport is connected to the whole event and they find themselves watching sports that they normally wouldn't. I myself for example usually cannot care less for world championships in general, when it comes to e.g. track events. But when it is "The Olympics", I find myself watching them. It's not just 100m hurdles for example - it's "The Olympics, and it's the whole idea of a single city gathering athletes from all sports from around the world and it's a real fest and will take another 4 years to watch it again - probably never again taking place in the same world city in my lifetime" etc (I didn't include the "Olympic Spirit Idea", 'cause I think it's obvious that nowadays such stuff only applies to primary school students, since at least the 80ies' "Boycottic Games" or the latest Caucasian incidents while Beijing).
Funny thing is, it actually is "the same thing" (in a sporting competition sense) that takes place every two years, considering participation of athletes and teams. And that especially goes for Basketball.

Now as for Basketball fans specifically, I think that they consider the FIBA World Championship of more importance on one hand, 'cause it's their beloved sport, and the whole event is solely dedicated to it, plus there's more teams which adds up to the importance - but on the other since the US hasn't been quite feeling so through the decades (considering the given attention to their roster), they do tend to consider winning in a tournament that some unbeatable US team has been participating at, is more prestigious....

My personal view on it is that it would be best if "youth teams" (say up to 22 years of age) were to participate at Olympic Events (it would be closer to that supposed "Olympic Spirit" anyway, but alas...) and that nations should just better concentrate on individual World Championships.

[Shawshank]

its not even close.Olimpics by far ...

Look only at the names who played in Bejiing and this year in turkey..Inturkey we didnt see : Kobe,James,Wade,Gasol,Gnobili,Novicki,Jasikevicus, siskauskas,Parker...al the biggest stars and Faces of their teams missed WCH and giving rest for the body and most of them wants to play in london...You still dont get the message? its obviuos.Olimpic games its olimpics game..World championship is for younger player to show their abilities and make names for themselfs.

I think Olimpics games isnt the strongest tournament,because they are allowing only four-five teams from europe.So with other continents the level of basketball is lower (except usa,argentina).I even say this to win a medal ( and get place in OG) in europe championship before olimpics is harder than to win a medal in olimpics

But ofcourse win a medal in Olimpic games is prestige and its more valuable.

[Straight forward]

The technical director told me that this is the order of preference for players from European teams:
1. Olympic games
2. EuroBasket in the year in which Olympic berths are won
3. World Championships
4. EuroBasket tourneys in non-Olympic qualifying years

Perfect! The very good perspective is exactly Eurobasket's fresh history. We saw what kind of tournament was in 2007 (before Olympics all biggest stars were here) and what kind of youth tournament happened in 2009. More over, not that clear, but almost the same balance happened in 2003 (before Olympics) and 2005.
Saying that, 2011 will be filled with quality and Slovenia (2013) got a little bit unlucky I'm afraid.

[Phantim3dx]

i seriously was about to write something thoughtful and insightful but then my mind went blank...let me think for a moment

[Ronield3Francis]

Ya in some sense it is true, like for the games like soccer, basketball..
They count wining WC are major reward than wining Olympics. But for athletes its better to achieve success through Olympics only.

[90josh]

The Olympics for sure. So they really become Elite Athletes.

[FerAin78]

In my opinion is the WBC of course

[durden_tyler]

Come to think of it, the Americans decides which one is better. Where ever they send their best team (Team A) is going to be the more prestigious tournament... So it doesn't matter if its WC or Olympics as long as the best team is there (which is of course Team USA)... And obviously USA has more regard for the Olympics so...

[bukag.2011]

between the tow, i think it is the olympics...
because for some people, as long as you speak of the "world" competition, it sounds bigger.
whereas, the WBC is more prestigious for deep basketball fanatics.
since WBC is pure basketball. and since 24 teams compete, we see a lot of them in one tournament.
although, in olympics, it is still regarded as deep becuase there is only 12 teams, the 12 best teams in the world.

in my country, philippines, we regard olympics higher than the WBC.
it is like, to compete in the olympics, is like winning the gold already.
to compete in teh WBC after the olympics, will be an added blessing.

i think it depends on the country of the person you're gonna ask.

and to quote one poster here:

if usa sends the biggest names to a certain tournament, that would be the biggest.

[charmsuk20]

heheh

so happy

[Rotela]

Olympics is way better than the WBC