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Fists fly, chairs flung in 'friendly' basketball match
Black eye for diplomacy as goodwill match between US, China teams descends into violence
by THE DAILY TELEGRAPH Updated 04:21 PM Aug 19, 2011
[video=youtube;3UOGIaMmeUM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UOGIaMmeUM&feature=player_embedded[/video]
BEIJING - A goodwill basketball game between a team from Washington's Georgetown University and their Chinese opponents was called off after it descended into violence.
The game between Georgetown University men's basketball team and the Chinese Bayi Rockets was part of the American team's five-day goodwill tour of China.
It is unclear what started the fight but video posted online shows Chinese players and officials exchanging blows with Georgetown players as chairs are thrown across the court at the Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Beijing.
Georgetown coach John Thompson pulled his players off the court with 10 minutes left in the game. The scores were tied at 64 all as the American players were led to the safety of the locker rooms.
In a statement, Thonpson said: "Tonight, two great teams played a very competitive game that unfortunately ended after heated exchanges with both teams. We sincerely regret that this situation occurred."
The Americans are due to fly to Shanghai for another friendly game today but it is not clear whether this will go ahead.
The team had been watched just the day before by US Vice-President Joe Biden, who is on an official goodwill visit to China.
Black eye for diplomacy as goodwill match between US, China teams descends into violence
by THE DAILY TELEGRAPH Updated 04:21 PM Aug 19, 2011
[video=youtube;3UOGIaMmeUM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UOGIaMmeUM&feature=player_embedded[/video]
BEIJING - A goodwill basketball game between a team from Washington's Georgetown University and their Chinese opponents was called off after it descended into violence.
The game between Georgetown University men's basketball team and the Chinese Bayi Rockets was part of the American team's five-day goodwill tour of China.
It is unclear what started the fight but video posted online shows Chinese players and officials exchanging blows with Georgetown players as chairs are thrown across the court at the Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Beijing.
Georgetown coach John Thompson pulled his players off the court with 10 minutes left in the game. The scores were tied at 64 all as the American players were led to the safety of the locker rooms.
In a statement, Thonpson said: "Tonight, two great teams played a very competitive game that unfortunately ended after heated exchanges with both teams. We sincerely regret that this situation occurred."
The Americans are due to fly to Shanghai for another friendly game today but it is not clear whether this will go ahead.
The team had been watched just the day before by US Vice-President Joe Biden, who is on an official goodwill visit to China.
