Sutherland to manage 2012 basketball

EDINBURGH'S Joanna Sutherland has been appointed as the London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee's Competition Manager for Basketball.

She will be responsible for all the planning, organisation and management of the Olympic basketball and wheelchair basketball events in 2012.

Commenting on her appointment, Joanna said: "I'm honoured to be given the opportunity to help showcase basketball and wheelchair basketball at the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

"The Games are a terrific chance for basketball in the UK to start realising some of its potential and I look forward to contributing to that process – my only regret is that I won't be playing."

FIBA (the International Basketball Federation) Secretary General and International Olympic Committee member Patrick Baumann said: "Her basketball knowledge and experience in working with FIBA, FIBA Europe and our member national federations will put her in good standing for this vital and very important position."

Joanna will travel to the Beijing Games in August to see what lessons can be learned. She will take up her post on a part-time basis, becoming full time towards the end of 2009.