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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Lifestyle
Kieran Pender. Photography: Marco Serventi

Australia’s octogenarian basketball team know it’s never too late to don the green and gold

Oscar Carlons (84) of the Australia Men’s Over 80 basketball team hangs his jersey out to air in Lugano, Switzerland
Oscar Carlson (84) of the Australia men’s over-80 basketball team airs his jersey out in Lugano, Switzerland. Photograph: Marco Serventi

Oscar Carlson describes himself, rather self-deprecatingly, as “just an old bloke that does stuff”. Only doing stuff – in this 84-year-old’s case – extends to representing his country on the international sporting stage.

Last month, Carlson was a member of the Australian 80-year plus men’s team at the World Maxibasketball Championship in Switzerland. The Boomer Boomers, if you will. The championships feature national teams in age categories from 35-plus and upwards; games are played under ordinary basketball rules, with minor modifications for older age categories – including an extended shot clock and smaller courts.

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