Tournament in Hong Kong

Historic opportunity: “Olympic dream is within reach!”

Matthias Linortner is eager to qualify for the Olympics.(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Edgar Eisner)

Austria's 3x3 national basketball team led by Upper Austrian Matthias Linortner will be fighting for a historic opportunity in Hong Kong from Friday. The last time a domestic ball sports team took part in the Olympic Games was 24 years ago. There have only ever been two medals - and that was 88 years ago!

Although the naturalized US boy Qunicy Diggs recently played for the "normal" national basketball team in the 106:91 World Cup qualifier against Armenia, the star player is currently not eligible to play for the 3x3 team due to regulations. He would have had to be naturalized before 1 January 2022. The association around President Gerald Martens is accordingly angry and is daring to make another attempt at the IOC. "Our lawyers are still of the opinion that Quincy must have the right to take part in the Olympic Games," says Martens

Two silver medals 88 years ago
Despite the minor setback, red-white-red will not let the trend sport get them down and will be fighting for the historic Olympic ticket in Hong Kong from Friday. Especially as the Upper Austrians Matthias Linortner and Enis Murati as well as Nico Kaltenbrunner and Fabio Söhnel could become the first ball sports team to qualify for the Games since the handball team 24 years ago. There have only been two other medals in such sports. In 1936 in Berlin, both the footballers led by striker Franz Fuchsberger, who also played for Urfahr, and the field handball players won silver.

Olympic champion awaits
"The Olympic dream is within reach and also realistic. We are doing everything we can for it and are well prepared," says Linortner. Postscript: "Whether it's historic or not is probably more interesting for the media and the statisticians than for me. For us, it would simply be confirmation of our form - which is Olympic-ready!"

In Hong Kong, they will face the Netherlands, Switzerland and the hosts in Group A in "sweltering 30 degrees". Only the winner of the tournament will go to Paris. Although Olympic champions Latvia are also taking part, Austria are among the favorites. "If we bring what we can to the pitch, there is no team that can beat us," says team boss Milan Isakov. If nothing happens in Hong Kong, a qualifying tournament awaits in Debrecen in May.