[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 105 (Monday, July 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  2002 WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JULIA CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the 
attention of the House that the United States will be playing host to 
the World Basketball Championship for the first time in the event's 50 
year history. For 11 days from August 29 to September 8, 2002, 16 teams 
from all over the world will compete for the title of World Basketball 
Champions, and appropriately they will be competing for that title in 
what is known as the basketball capitol of the world, Indianapolis, 
Indiana.
  Long before basketball was a world game, it was an Indiana game, in 
fact it was THE Indiana game. There is no place in the world that 
follows basketball with more passion, devotion, support, and adoration 
than in Indiana. The term for this basketball craze is fondly called 
``Hoosier Hysteria.'' A hysteria that allows Indiana to have over 30 
high school gymnasiums with seating capacity over 5,000, including one 
arena that seats 5,600 people, not too surprising until you find out 
that the town's population is only 5,000.
  Indianapolis is also no stranger to major international sporting 
events. It is preparing for what is expected to be about 150,000 to 
175,000 visiting basketball fans.
  Indianapolis not only hosts the three largest single day sporting 
events in the world in it's three races, but it has also hosted 4 NCAA 
Men's Final Fours, 14 United States Olympic Team Trials, the 2001 World 
Police and Fire games, and is slated to host many events in the near 
future.
  Indianapolis hopes that its Hoosier Hysteria will shine through and 
take on a new international light to warmly welcome the many 
international visitors. It is in this spirit of support and 
international goodwill that the entire Indiana Delegation is 
introducing House Concurrent Resolution 443, a resolution supporting 
the 2002 World Basketball Championships and welcoming the visiting 
teams from Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, 
Lebanon, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Venezuela, 
and Yugoslavia.
  International sporting events such as the 2002 World Basketball 
Championship play an important role in continuing to foster positive 
international relationships between participating teams and fans. This 
event provides an opportunity for not only residents of Indiana, but 
for all Americans to unite behind their national team and also welcome 
the players and fans from all the visiting teams. Therefore, Mr. 
Speaker, I ask that Congress join me in supporting the 2002 World 
Basketball Championship for Men welcoming the 16 international teams to 
the United States by supporting this resolution.

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