FIBA confirms no 5-8 placings matches at 2008 Olympic Games

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- World basketball governing body, the International Basketball Association (FIBA), confirmed Wednesday that there would be no 5-8 placings phase for the basketball competitions at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Florian Wanninger, Communications Director of FIBA, said the 5-8 placings will be decided upon records and point differences from the preliminary round.

"There will be no 5-8 placings matches. The rankings of the losers of the second round will be decided in a mathematic way," Wanninger said at the 2008 Good Luck Beijing women's basketball international invitational tournament.

Losers of quarterfinals will be classified on win-and-loss record in the preliminary round. Teams with same record will be re-classified on standings of the group and points differences of all matches.

Wanninger said teams complained about the competition system in Athens 2004 and a FIBA Central Board meeting made the change on Dec. 5, 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Two teams commented negatively on the 19-day schedule, which is slated from August 9-27, Wanninger added.

The FIBA will hold the draw of the men's and women's basketball competitions of the 2008 Olympics on Saturday at the Wukesong Arena, which will hosts the competitions.

Wanninger said an executive meeting of the FIBA on Friday and Saturday will discuss some changes of rules and other issues, like the range of the 3-pointer arc.