Canada men’s basketball team visits Vimy Ridge ahead of Olympic opener

Ahead of the first Olympic contest for Canada’s men’s basketball squad in over two decades, the team decided to step away from the court for a bit.

The national team made a trip to a historical site on Thursday, where Canada once stood victorious during the First World War. Vimy Ridge was considered an important observation point and industrial region in Northern France — and the victory was seen by many as a defining moment for Canada.

Winning the Battle of Vimy Ridge earned Canadian troops a reputation as formidable and resilient, as the small contingent accomplished what other, larger allied forces couldn’t. It was a victory that came at a heavy cost, however, as more than 10,000 Canadian soldiers were killed or wounded.

That sacrifice was clearly not lost on the Canadian men’s basketball team, as they made the short trip from Lilles, France, to Vimy Ridge to pay their respects.

Canada Basketball shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), showing Kelly Olynyk and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sharing a moment of silence atop the tribute site. The team also brought a Canadian flag with them and took a team photo.

And in less than 48 hours, the team will open its 2024 Olympic campaign, hoping to medal for the first time in nearly a century. The men’s team last medalled at the 1936 Olympics in Germany, when it took home silver.

Despite that, and the fact it’ll be the men’s first Olympic appearance since 2000, expectations will be high. After finishing third in the FIBA World Cup just last year, and carrying an even more talented roster now, the path to a medal is visible.

Their pursuit of that goal will begin on Saturday against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece as part of Group A action. Spain and Australia are the other two squads in the group.

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