The National Basketball Association signed a deal here on Wednesday to bring NBA-style presentation to the 2008 Olympic Games.

The agreement, signed by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Games (BOCOG), the NBA and FIBA, the game's world governing body, said the three will cooperate on in-arena entertainment during the basketball competition of the Games. Sports presentation includes live music, wide-screen visualizations, public announcements and in-game entertainment.

The NBA and FIBA already successfully implemented the in-arena game entertainment at the 2004 Athens basketball tournaments following the approval of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Athens Organizing Committee (ATHOC). The goal of the project was to create an ambience for the athletes and the spectators which would be as compelling as the sports action.

"We want to provide a memorable in-arena experience to the fans, motivate them to support our athletes and make the basketball competition one of the hottest sports at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing," said FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann.

During the basketball competition at the Beijing Olympics, the NBA will provide human resources for sports presentation, including personnel such as game and video directors, music and production coordinators and script supervisors.

Source: Xinhua