The Bermuda Basketball Association will launch an attempt to have the island compete in 3-on-3 basketball at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.

The International Olympic Committee approved the addition of the new format in June 2017 for the Tokyo Games, which have been delayed until next year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

If all goes accordingly, the association plans to kick-start its preparations next summer with the addition of the format to its programme along with other initiatives to bolster the island’s chances of achieving its primary objective.

“We might be looking at doing some form of 3-on-3 outdoor tournaments like every other weekend,” Tim Trott, the BBA secretary-general, said.

“We have appealed to government about upgrading the basketball courts because there are a number of courts which are on the island, but almost all of them have damage or lines on the court are not visible.

“We are hoping government will see that and hopefully do something between now and spring.”

Trott said the 3-on-3 format provides many opportunities for Bermuda’s basketball players, particularly at youth level.

“FIBA, the world governing body of basketball, has mandated to expand on 3-on-3 basketball so we are hoping in 2021 to actually get invited to some of the Caribbean tournaments because that’s our zone,” he added.

“Even if we don’t qualify for the Olympics, at least there’s opportunities because there’s youth tournaments which basically graduate from junior to senior level.

“So even if we can’t get a team in the qualification stage to the Olympics, there’s opportunities for our youth to qualify for some of these other tournaments.”

The coronavirus has adversely impacted several of the BBA’s initiatives this year, including plans to have the under-19 team compete in tournaments in the Caribbean and Canada, and also take part in a training camp in Florida.

The association was also forced to pull the plug on its Fall League, which was due to commence in September as a result of Covid-19 protocols.

“Unfortunately at this time, we are unable to hold any indoor leagues until 2021,” Trott said.

“One of the venues we were going to use is CedarBridge and we knew ahead of time that their gym wasn’t going to be available in September, so we knocked that in the head.”

The BBA is keeping its fingers crossed that plans to have the winter season commence next month come to fruition.

“We aim on doing something at the start of January, but that is still in the air, as the uptick in Covid-19 activity may cause the venues that we use to remain closed,” Trott added.

“At this point in time, it’s a go. But with this latest uptick in people getting Covid, we won’t know until January.

“We remain positive that this will not occur.

“But Covid has knocked everything out and is hitting the indoor sports the most, really, because football and cricket are still able to operate.”