Potential Olympians to compete in tournament at Lackland

  • Published
  • By Tony Perez
  • 37th Training Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Some of the world's best military basketball players are converging on Lackland Air Force Base for the International Military Sports Council Basketball Tournament April 7 through April 22.

Military teams from Greece, Italy, Korea, Canada, Latvia and Lithuania will join the United States team in an Olympic-style tournament.

This is the second time Lackland AFB has hosted one of the International Military Sports Council's sporting events. In 1998, the base held the council's boxing tournament.

Because some of the other countries use their best athletes at the International Military Sports Council tournaments, a potential 2008 Olympic medal team may be visiting Lackland AFB.

Opening ceremonies take place April 7 at the Lackland AFB Parade Grounds. All basketball games will take place at the Chaparral Fitness Center here. The championship games begin April 22. All the events and games are free to the public.

Following the final game, there will be a closing ceremony where individual awards and team awards will be presented. At that point, U.S. officials will pass the International Military Sports Council flag to Lithuania, next year's host country for the basketball tournament.

Currently, the council is the largest authority for military sports activity in the world. It comprises 130 countries.

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