With about four months to go before the 2012 Olympic basketball qualifying round tips off, the Fédération Française de Basketball (FFBB) and director Benoit Dujardin have launched a series of short documentaries on Team France’s preparation for the London Games.
Episodes in the 14-part “On the Road to Britain” series will be released on YouTube and DailyMotion every Thursday. This is a French-language series but subtitles are available on the DailyMotion uploads and the embeds below.
As Tony Parker, Joakim Noah, Kevin Seraphin, Nando de Colo, Boris Diaw and Les Bleus’ others are currently plying their trades elsewhere, much of the focus in early “On the Road to Britain” chapters is on preparation and preview. In “Lancement de tournée,” we learn of Team France’s summer schedule – featuring reportedly the most games ever played in La Republique in a single summer by the national team – and of head coach Vincent Collet’s expectations.
Says Collet, “After the favorites, USA and Spain, between four and six teams can dream about a medal. And we are among team. So let’s be ambitious.”
On the road to London la série – Lancement de… by FFBB
Episode two is entitled “Le Directeur” and focuses on incredibly hardworking behind-the-scenes guy Patrick Beesley, France’s national basketball program director. Beesley takes a unique and effective hands-on approach to dealing with his players: “We know we are not the NBA,” he says, “But we try to come as close as possible to their standards.” Interesting stuff here as players from the big league attempt to explain just what the heck this guy does for them.
On the road to London la série – Le directeur by FFBB
“On the Road to Britain” episode three is due on March 29 and is entitled “Le Star.” Hmmm, wonder who the focus of that’ll be…
