Sports Council assists in broadcast of Centro Basket Games

anthony michael

As we reported earlier, before the National Basketball Team heads to the Dominican Republic to play in the Centro Basket Tournament, it has two games right at home against Venezuela’s national team.  Tonight, the Executive Director of the National Sports Council will join fans at the Venezuela games the Belize City Center. But instead of going to the Dominican Republic, Anthony Michael, has decided to give up his ticket so that the country will get the best media coverage possible of our local stars as they shoot free throws and three pointers on the foreign court that will decide whether or not we will continue to dream of the 2012 Olympics in London.

Anthony Michael, Executive Director National, Sports Council

“I was scheduled to travel along with the team. I figured there are enough officials that will be on the trip. I know the Honorable John Saldivar has indicated passionately that he will be out there supporting from a ministerial and a government standpoint. I gave up my ticket for reporter, Mr. James Adderley, to accompany the team to bring back live broadcast to the Belizean public. I think the live broadcast that was held in Cancun, that’s what motivated our country. When you look at the statistics there were no murder rates and stuff during that period of week because everybody was in tuned to the basketball team out there. They made us proud and we’re hoping—they’ve already made us proud advancing to the Dominican Republic and we’re hoping that we should be able to be in the top four to move on to the Olympic Qualifier.”

Jose Sanchez

“Now, I understand that both Channel 5 and Love FM has teamed up to pay the fees to bring the games live to the entire country. But when it comes to the games with Venezuela, I understand that no one will be able to broadcast the games live and those are local games. Why is that?”

Anthony Michael

“I did not have any direct affiliation with the live broadcast from here. Civic Center is open to anybody who wants to broadcast it live. That is an arrangement that needs to be made between the Basketball Federation. Civic center can probably hold about three thousand people. We expect it to be filled tonight, we expect it to be filled tomorrow night. A lot of people at home, the elderly or the sick would have liked to see their national team on television playing.”

Jose Sanchez

“So it’s a pity that we have six districts; not everyone will be able to fit in here. Perhaps you think the B.B.F. should have allowed the TV stations to bring the game to the country?”

Anthony Michael

“Certainly, because probably they look at it from—and I’m only assuming and ask their forgiveness—but I am looking at it that they probably figured if they would have advertised it on television they wouldn’t have drawn the amount of crowd. But nevertheless, trust me, television or not Civic Center will be filled. It’s just making that additional coverage available to the people that are sick like I said and are old and injured and…”

Jose Sanchez

“Even the people in PG or Corozal that won’t be here.”

Anthony Michael

“Even the people who won’t be able to come up and Orange Walk and naturally our entire country is supporting our national team.”

If you won’t be able to make it to the City Centre to see the games  with Venezuela, but would like to see it broadcast on television, you can contact Belize Basketball Federation to share your opinion.