Recently, basketball players
Thorne Meck.
expressed his disappointment on Twitter. He will not be able to represent SA at this year's Olympics as the Australian Basketball Association failed to issue him a letter of clarification in time.
Meck wrote in a tweet:
"It's been a sad day.
I started the process on April 5, but unfortunately the clarification letter from Basketball Australia came too late to catch up with the FIBA approval process.
This also dictated that the SCBA 'claimed' me too late.
The appeal will continue, but (I) don't have a chance to compete in the Olympics (this year).
I'm disappointed, but my goal is still to participate in future competitions. Good luck to South Sudan. My heart is with you (them) at the #2024ParisOlympics."
The 27-year-old Meck, who holds dual citizenship with South Sudan and Australia, played for Australia in the Men's Basketball Asia Cup in 2022, helping the team win the title and being named to the tournament's Best XI that year. That year at the Asian Cup, Meck averaged 17.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
Meck was the No. 10 pick in the NBA in 2016 and has played for the Bucks, Pistons and Cavaliers in his career. Last season, he appeared in 45 games for the CBA's Fujian team, averaging 21.3 minutes and contributing 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.9 caps.
