Youth movement should anchor Monglia’s basketball future
In a small YMCA gym in Springfield, Massachusetts Dr. James Naismith, on a rainy day in December 1891, unknowingly created the game of basketball and what would become one of America’s biggest exports.
What started as a simple game to keep his overactive students busy while confined to the indoors, has grown into a worldwide sport played by over 450 million individuals on organized and amateur levels according the latest statistics compiled by the International Basketball Organization (FIBA) in 2007.
In an article published by the International Review for the Sociology of Sport in 2006, National Basketball Association games were viewed in over 750 million households in 42 different languages in 212 countries.
The number of viewers has undoubtedly increased with China’s insatiable appetite for the game. Viewership in the country is between 10-15 million per game despite a massive time change that means games are often shown at inconvenient hours for fans.
Although it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to pin point the success of the NBA abroad on a single factor, the tireless marketing of the sport by Commissioner David Stern played a major role.
Stern has propelled what was once seen as an American-centric sport like football into a global brand and identity. In Asia, Stern began the NBA’s relationship with China in 1987.
Stern’s sales pitch to China was greatly helped by the NBA’s 1984 draft class, one that included perennial all-stars and future Hall of Famers John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, and most importantly, Michael Jordan.
Further aided by the arrival of the Nike marketing machine, Stern formed a connection with the China’s CCTV bringing games to the Chinese audience for the first time.
China’s growth into a world super power began as the 1990’s brought some the greatest players into their prime. This combination spurred the popularity of the game in country, which continued to grow through the 2000’s and exploded with the emergence of homegrown talent Yao Ming.
2012 marks the 50th anniversary on basketball’s presence in Mongolia, where the sport has grown because of the huge presence in China.
In 2007, Nike organised ‘Nike In the Land of Chinggis Khann’ a project that traveled to 25 rural communities in Mongolia to promote the sport in areas where horse racing and traditional wrestling are far more common than shooting an oversized orange ball through a metal rim.
Today, the urban landscape of Ulaanbaatar is dotted with basketball courts. Although in varying degrees of upkeep and some not quite meeting the 10 foot regulation for hoop height.
In the frigid winters, the games move indoors to school gyms and sport centers.
At Naraantuul Market and the city’s 3rd District shops are filled to the ceilings with the jerseys of some of the game’s most popular players; the team colors of Wade, Lebron, Pierce, and Kobe hang in stalls next to sellers hawking traditional fur lined boots. Students wear the shirts of 1992 Dream Team players that had all but exited the league before they were born.
Members of the sporting community and corporate entities have realised the trend and are looking to capitalize.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard came to Mongolia as part of an Adidas tour of Asia and the opening ceremony of the Prime Minister’s Dream Team sports’ program in September 2011.
Two months later in November, soft drink giant Pepsi signed a 5 year partnership with the Mongolian Basketball League. Pepsi became the main sponsor of the Pepsi D-League, Pepsi College League, and the future Pepsi National League.
It was announced this week that retired NBA legend Scottie Pippen would come to Mongolia to promote the same Dream Team program that drew Howard, although a reported payment of USD 50,000 may be the real reason behind the six-time NBA champion’s enthusiasm to see the country.
Additionally this week was an unexpected announcement that a number of strong teams from the Mongolian Basketball Association would split from the group, forming the Mongolian Basketball Union.
The decision the break away comes from a dispute over the team TLG-13 being suddenly removed without reason from the Pepsi High League Championships set to tip-off on February 15. It remains unclear if either will be able to operate fully with diminished team rosters.
Loss of traditional customs, language, and dress are often citied as effects of globalisation that countries are determined to avoid. In basketball, Mongolia has a product of globalisation that has far more upsides than downs. But inter-organisation squabbling and the alienation of a population through an unjustifiably high paydays for a past his prime player are a quick way to stall what could be a big strides for Mongolian sport.
Providing quality courts, safe playing environments, and proper training for players is where this development will begin. Although the Pepsi logos and big-name players may bring short-term fans, for continued success and growth more focus must fall on the building blocks of a successful foundation, youth player development, that could potentially stock a thriving domestic league and just maybe, an exported player with the skills to put Mongolian basketball talent on the world map.
What started as a simple game to keep his overactive students busy while confined to the indoors, has grown into a worldwide sport played by over 450 million individuals on organized and amateur levels according the latest statistics compiled by the International Basketball Organization (FIBA) in 2007.
In an article published by the International Review for the Sociology of Sport in 2006, National Basketball Association games were viewed in over 750 million households in 42 different languages in 212 countries.
The number of viewers has undoubtedly increased with China’s insatiable appetite for the game. Viewership in the country is between 10-15 million per game despite a massive time change that means games are often shown at inconvenient hours for fans.
Although it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to pin point the success of the NBA abroad on a single factor, the tireless marketing of the sport by Commissioner David Stern played a major role.
Stern has propelled what was once seen as an American-centric sport like football into a global brand and identity. In Asia, Stern began the NBA’s relationship with China in 1987.
Stern’s sales pitch to China was greatly helped by the NBA’s 1984 draft class, one that included perennial all-stars and future Hall of Famers John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, and most importantly, Michael Jordan.
Further aided by the arrival of the Nike marketing machine, Stern formed a connection with the China’s CCTV bringing games to the Chinese audience for the first time.
China’s growth into a world super power began as the 1990’s brought some the greatest players into their prime. This combination spurred the popularity of the game in country, which continued to grow through the 2000’s and exploded with the emergence of homegrown talent Yao Ming.
2012 marks the 50th anniversary on basketball’s presence in Mongolia, where the sport has grown because of the huge presence in China.
In 2007, Nike organised ‘Nike In the Land of Chinggis Khann’ a project that traveled to 25 rural communities in Mongolia to promote the sport in areas where horse racing and traditional wrestling are far more common than shooting an oversized orange ball through a metal rim.
Today, the urban landscape of Ulaanbaatar is dotted with basketball courts. Although in varying degrees of upkeep and some not quite meeting the 10 foot regulation for hoop height.
In the frigid winters, the games move indoors to school gyms and sport centers.
At Naraantuul Market and the city’s 3rd District shops are filled to the ceilings with the jerseys of some of the game’s most popular players; the team colors of Wade, Lebron, Pierce, and Kobe hang in stalls next to sellers hawking traditional fur lined boots. Students wear the shirts of 1992 Dream Team players that had all but exited the league before they were born.
Members of the sporting community and corporate entities have realised the trend and are looking to capitalize.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard came to Mongolia as part of an Adidas tour of Asia and the opening ceremony of the Prime Minister’s Dream Team sports’ program in September 2011.
Two months later in November, soft drink giant Pepsi signed a 5 year partnership with the Mongolian Basketball League. Pepsi became the main sponsor of the Pepsi D-League, Pepsi College League, and the future Pepsi National League.
It was announced this week that retired NBA legend Scottie Pippen would come to Mongolia to promote the same Dream Team program that drew Howard, although a reported payment of USD 50,000 may be the real reason behind the six-time NBA champion’s enthusiasm to see the country.
Additionally this week was an unexpected announcement that a number of strong teams from the Mongolian Basketball Association would split from the group, forming the Mongolian Basketball Union.
The decision the break away comes from a dispute over the team TLG-13 being suddenly removed without reason from the Pepsi High League Championships set to tip-off on February 15. It remains unclear if either will be able to operate fully with diminished team rosters.
Loss of traditional customs, language, and dress are often citied as effects of globalisation that countries are determined to avoid. In basketball, Mongolia has a product of globalisation that has far more upsides than downs. But inter-organisation squabbling and the alienation of a population through an unjustifiably high paydays for a past his prime player are a quick way to stall what could be a big strides for Mongolian sport.
Providing quality courts, safe playing environments, and proper training for players is where this development will begin. Although the Pepsi logos and big-name players may bring short-term fans, for continued success and growth more focus must fall on the building blocks of a successful foundation, youth player development, that could potentially stock a thriving domestic league and just maybe, an exported player with the skills to put Mongolian basketball talent on the world map.
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