7 News Belize

Bze Ballers Withdraw From Guat Tournament After Offensive Logo Appears
posted (February 28, 2013)
Belize is sending about 160 athletes and officials competing in 13 disciplines to San Jose, Costa Rica for the tenth Central American Games. They will be competing in Athletics, Judo, Basketball, Karate, Body Building, Softball, Boxing, Tennis, Cycling, Triathlon, Fencing, Volleyball and Football.

The games run from March third to the 18th. But Belize's men's basketball team got a jump on the competition by signing up for a warm-up tournament which started today in Guatemala. It's an international tournament called the "New Era of the Mundo Maya" organized by the National Sports Federation of Guatemalan Basketball. From the paperwork, it has all appearances of being a good opportunity for the Belize Team because they will meet national selections from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominica Republic and two professional teams from Guatemala and Mexico. The only problem is, the Guatemalan Federation's logo. Watch it closely and you'll see that it depicts Belize as a part of Guatemala. Right there on the imaginary Western coast of Guatemala, that's Belize.

When we called Vice President Charles Ellis today, he was not aware of it and told us - with concern - that it was a genuine oversight. He says the team had already left and was in fact playing its first game as we spoke. Just a few minutes ago, he confirmed that Belize will be withdrawing form the competition immediately. This will be formalized as soon as he can reach head of delegation Matthew Smiling. Turns out also that the tournament is organized by a renegade association that is not recognized by FIBA or the International Olympic Committee. That's what President of the Belize Olympic Association Hilly Martinez told us by phone from Costa Rica this evening. He said he also urged Ellis to withdraw immediately.

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