Junckers Provides Basketball Courts for 2024 Paris Olympics

LeBron James, Steph Curry, Diana Taurasi, and more of the world’s best basketball players are hitting the hardwood for the 2024 Paris Olympics. But behind the scenes, it took another kind of “Dream Team” to have the sports floors ready for tip-off. Enter Junckers, a solid wood flooring manufacturer headquartered in Koege, Denmark.

Junckers was selected due to their long-term partnership with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), for which they have served as the global supplier from 2021 to 2024. The company is no stranger to major tournaments, as they have provided the assist with flooring projects for the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, 2019 Lima Pan American Games, 2016 Rio Olympics, 2014 Asian Games, and the EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin.

Thomas Bendixen, CEO of Junckers, says when compared to a standard sports floor at a school, the biggest difference with a marquee project like the Olympics lies in the timeframe and precision for installation.

Thomas Bendixen CEO, Junckers A/S

“The group stage is played in Lille (Pierre-Mauroy Stadium), and as the tournament reaches the playoffs, it will take place in Paris (Bercy Arena) where the winner will be decided,” explains Bendixen. “This distribution of events requires a sports floor that is quick to install and dismantle, as well as strong project management to ensure everything runs smoothly. It is critical that everything works perfectly.”

The floors were manufactured in Junckers’ Denmark factory. According to Thomas Flindt, manager of product development/technical support for Junckers, the assembly, painting, and finishing took about three weeks. Preparations are not a buzzer-beater, though; they began almost a year in advance.

The basketball tournament floors at Junckers’ factory in Denmark shortly before shipment to France for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“The design is directed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), reflecting the Olympics’ theme,” shares Flindt. “FIBA sets the performance requirements, needing a FIBA Level 1 approved floor. We actively participate as advisors in the project, influencing decisions based on our extensive knowledge and experience. This collaboration ensures the flooring meets all technical and aesthetic requirements, supporting both the athletes’ performance and the visual impact of the games.”

Flindt takes us through the details of the flooring, adding that Junckers’ Pro Complete 44 system was ideal for the job since they see it as being quick to install and dismantle, highly durable, and offers excellent shock absorption and player safety.

Thomas Flindt, Manager, Product Development / Technical Support, Junckers A/S

“The floor is our Pro Complete 44 Portable Sports Floor system, consisting of 7/8” (22 mm) solid hardwood strips preassembled into lightweight, hand-carried panels,” he says. “For the tournament, the wood species will be press-dried beech, which offers superior stability and resistance to wear. We are providing two tournament floors and four warm-up courts, totaling just over 34,500 square feet. The finish used is Junckers HP800 Sport, a high-performance polyurethane lacquer approved and officially certified by FIBA.”

As you might expect, the Olympic flooring ignited enthusiasm throughout the Junckers team while they worked to make this project a slam dunk.

“Seeing the Olympic rings on our products evokes tremendous emotion. It makes you realize that this is more than a floor—it’s the stage for one of the most anticipated tournaments of the Olympics,” says Bendixen. “The finished product is not only a testament to our technical capabilities but also reflects our commitment to excellence and our strategic focus on sports. Naturally, there’s a huge sense of pride associated with that.”

Men’s basketball at the 2024 Olympics began on July 27, and women’s basketball opened on July 28. Click here for the full schedule of when to watch your country’s team go for the gold on Junckers’ wood floors.

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