This weekend, The O2 will welcome literal and figurative giants of sport to the world’s busiest arena, as some of the NBA’s biggest stars descend on the capital for a series of friendly games against South Sudan and Germany, before moving on to compete in the Olympic Games later in the summer.
World-renowned legends of basketball LeBron James, Anthony Davis and seven-foot Joel Embiid are known for their slam dunks and incredible ability to leap with ease above the ten foot high hoop. However, their height advantages on the court aren’t without their challenges in everyday life, with taller ballers having to duck under doorframes, squeeze into seats and stoop down to see things placed at an ‘average’ height.
Well, no longer, because The O2 has made a series of considered height modifications to its world-famous arena and backstage areas, as a proud and accommodating host for basketball’s tallest superstars, who will be making the venue their home for the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase London.
At six-foot-seven, former professional British basketball player for the London Lions and former Love Island star, Ovie Soko, has been recruited by The O2 to trial and inspect these height modifications and ensure that they are perfect for the incoming USA players. The key changes being made include, but are not limited to:
Reconfiguring the backstage entrances to have doorways with extra height, giving the team plenty of room upon their arrival at The O2.
Updating décor within the backstage corridors to be at the appropriate eye level for even the tallest of players, including moving signed artwork up a full foot on the walls.
Adjustments to iconic blue arena seats to allow for maximised width and legroom, enabling the taller sportsmen to properly stretch out and get comfy whilst watching the other matches taking place this weekend at The O2.
Steve Sayer, Senior Vice President and General Manager at The O2, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be welcoming the USA Basketball national teams, alongside
South Sudan and Germany, to The O2 for this weekend’s events. We’re set to enjoy some spectacular games with truly some of the biggest names in basketball worldwide, and it will no doubt be an epic warm-up for the impending Olympic Games.”
Sayer continued: “We always strive to provide a best-in-class experience for everyone who walks through the door at The O2, and so naturally we wanted to go above and beyond to be the ultimate host and London home for these exceptional players. We hope that our latest modifications to the arena and backstage areas make their experience at The O2 even more memorable.”
Ovie Soko, said: “This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get involved in the excitement around the USA Basketball Showcase at The O2; these guys in the USA team are giants, not just in a celebrity or sporting sense, but height-wise too. I know from personal experience that being tall can sometimes be a bit awkward, so I thought it was a great idea to height-test The O2’s famous arena – and I was honoured to be able to walk down the backstage corridors, sit in the same seats and just generally soak up the same atmosphere these living legends will experience when they come here this weekend.”
The USA Basketball Showcase features a series of games taking place at The O2, that help USA Basketball national teams prepare for major competitions, including the FIBA World Cup and Olympic Games. The USA Men’s National Team will play South Sudan and Germany on Saturday 20 and Monday 22 July 2024, respectively, and the USA Basketball Women’s National Team will play the German Women’s National Team at on Tuesday 23 July 2024. For more information and to purchase tickets for these events, click HERE.
