• No TV coverage if Euro2007 in the UK

Despite the success of the British team in reaching a promotional play-off with Switzerland for a place in the European A Championship in two years time, which should guarantee their place in the London 2012 Olympics, British basketball fans have been prevented from following the finals of this year's event, Euro 2007, which is taking place this week and next in Spain and features many of the World's best players.
NBA stars such as Dirk Nowitski of Germany and Tony Parker and Boris Diaw of France have been enthralling TV audiences in 115 countries - but not in the UK.
The total figure includes 52 territories in Africa which is not even involved.
World champions and hosts Spain have already been beaten by Croatia in the group games and Slovenia have beaten France, but the biggest shock has been the defeat of former World champions Serbia by Israel, who only qualified via an extra tournament which ended last Friday.
The Israel result relegated Serbia to the bottom of their group and means they do not go through to the next stage in Madrid.
Basketballscotland Board member Gordon Berry, who returned from watching the group stages in Alicante yesterday, was enthralled by what he saw:
"The standard was fantastic - it reminded me why I became interested in basketball in the first place."

Britain will play Switzerland in Sheffield in Tuesday with the away game the following Saturday.
So far only one of their qualifying games, the victory over Slovakia at Birmingham, has been televised in the UK.

• GB through to Play-off for Euro A

Led by another 27 points from NBA star Luol Deng and seven rebounds from Scotland's Robert Archibald, Great Britain men's basketball team exceeded all expectations by hammering Belarus 83-51 in their final section game of the European B Championship in Minsk.
After losing to Belarus in Sheffield in the first phase last year GB feared a really tough encounter away against a team with a similar record, but, after a tense, error-strewn first half, they led 38-30 and though Belarus narrowed the gap to five in the third quarater, the brave Brits pulled away for a decisive victory to earn a play-off with Switzerland for promotion to the European A Championship in two years time.
Newcastle Eagles' new point guard Richard Midgley, who missed the game against Albania at Meadowbank with a knee injury, returned to play a key role, scoring 10 points, including three from six from three-point range.
With FIBA having stipulated that a place in the top tier of European basketball is a must if GB wishes to compete at the London 2012 Olympics, promotion has been high on the agenda since the team gathered in Florida for their training camp back in July.
Since then they have worked their way up from mid-table to the top by remaining undefeated this summer, beating Slovakia, the Netherlands, Albania and now Belarus.
Aided by the added strength and depth in the squad of not only Chicago Bulls star Deng but also Scotland's Archibald, who played 26 minutes and scored five points in Minsk and Seville-based Andy Betts, who had a "double double" with 10 rebounds and 12 points, GB now play Switzerland in the best of two games, at Sheffield on Tuesday Sept 11 and away the following Saturday (Sept 15)
"We're confident whenever we step on the floor and we just have to take the game to them. I like playing the first leg at home because it sets the tone," said coach Chris Finch.

Britain have played Switzerland three times in the past with a 2-1 record, winning 73-65 in 1960, losing 64-71 in a friendly in 1968 and winning 99-69 in Augsburg in 1972.