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Potential Olympians to compete at CISM tournament here

  • Published
  • By Tony Perez
  • 37th Training Wing Public Affairs Office
Some of the world's best military basketball players are converging on Lackland Air Force Base for the Council of International Military Sports Basketball Tournament Monday through April 22.

This is the second time Lackland has hosted one of CISM's sporting events. In 1998, Lackland hosted the council's boxing tournament.

Seven countries are slated to compete during the weeklong competition. Military teams from Greece, Italy, Korea, Canada, Latvia and Lithuania will join the United States team in a tournament that will feature Olympic-style pool play.

Because some of the other countries use their best athletes at the CISM tournament, there is chance to watch a potential 2008 Olympic medal team at Lackland.

The teams arrive Saturday and Sunday to settle in and have a chance to practice. Opening ceremonies take place Monday at the Lackland Parade Grounds at 9 a.m.  All basketball games take place at the Chaparral Fitness Center.

On Monday, games are scheduled for 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Games scheduled for Tuesday through April 21 take place at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The championship games begin April 22 at 9 a.m. The silver medal game begins at noon and the gold medal game begins at 3 p.m. 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, the United States will pass the CISM flag to Lithuania, next year's host country for the basketball tournament.

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