Final touches were completed on historic flooring in time for Canada to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Refinishing work on the 2019 Raptors championship floor, currently installed in the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, B.C., was completed just in time for the game opener. This flooring, last used at Oracle Arena where the 2019 NBA Champion Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors, underwent a complete overhaul for use in the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers, June 29 – July 4 2021.
Key upgrades included resizing the court to meet the new NBA and FIBA regulations, and taking it from Non-Sprung to a Sprung System for better performance. Moving to a Sprung System should aid in the reduction of fatigue and injuries to players. The refinishing process included sanding the entire surface down to the raw wood, application of custom staining, and the addition of International Basketball Federation logos. The completed court was now sporting a fresh, new appearance and ready for action.
3 NBA championships have been won on this floor, and with wins against Greece and China putting Team Canada into the semi-finals, they could very well be the first to win an Olympic Qualifier.
Watch the highlights video of the game against Greece below to see this incredible floor in action.
