ISTANBUL - DAY ONE - 3 SEPTEMBER 2010 U17 LOOKINGAHEAD Opening Turkey Tournament Milestoneswillbuild Ceremony Championship structure agreatfuture SPECTACULAR Realisingdreamson comesofage Page4 ACROBAtICSANDMORE theroadtoIstanbul Page2 Page6 Page9 RecordCongress aiminghigherstill Basketball has confi rmed its position as “the other global sport” and will scale yet greater heights. That was the message from FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann on the eve of the World Congress in Istanbul as delegates gath- ered for an action-packed week. It’s the best- supported Congress ever, with more than 170 countries represented and over 400 delegates. Welcometo “The sport has grown in maturity as have we Congress as an organisation,” said Baumann. “I think we are now recognised as one of the most innova- “I would like to tive international federations. extend the warmest “Basketball continues to grow in popularity welcome to col- throughout the world and its status and value can leagues and friends be seen from the fact that now when we organise attending the World major tournaments we deal with the top people The World Championship opening was a colourful ceremony. More photo’s Pages 6 & 7. Congress, and thank such as ministers of sport or even prime ministers. the Turkish Basket- “It is they who recognise the importance able to increase by 50% the amount of money The growth of the sport is refl ected in signifi - ball Federation for of our game. It is not a question of us making channelled to the federations via the zones. The cantly increased interest in this World Congress claims.” target now is to double revenues over the next and in plans to reduce the congress cycle from organising what will With FIBA revenues and profi ts up, it was 10 years, said Baumann. four years to two. be an outstanding “It sounds an ambitious target but if you look “We have seen a 100% increase in the event. at it, it is not unrealistic, amounting to about number of federations registering for Istanbul,” “The response to seven per cent growth a year,” he said. “The said Baumann. “We had about 80 countries at this Congress has sport is growing at a very healthy rate and if the last congress and we have more than 170 been exceptional, we can grow our revenues similarly then we now. That is a very good and it is another sign of and refl ects the channel more money back to the grass roots and the growth of the sport. strength of our stimulate further growth. We are in a virtuous “The FIBA family is very active and as the game. I believe this circle.” sport grows around the world, so we see more Congress will chart Baumann said that the growth of the sport and more federations coming here looking for a powerful course was the result of a combination of factors, know-how and help because of that phenomenal for basketball for including the inherent attractiveness of the growth.” years to come. The game, and stronger organisation at FIBA, zone Baumann added that the congress theme – and federation levels. “Extending our Reach” – pointed to the chal- game we love is “You cannot really pinpoint any single factor,” lenge of the future. “We want to grow the game destined to become “TheFIBAfamilyisveryactiveand he said. “FIBA cannot take all of the credit but still further. I want to see a basketball in every stronger yet. asthesportgrowsaroundthe it has in place an effective strategy and we are house, garden, school, city square or beach and “Welcome to world,soweseemoreandmore now seeing the results of plans put in place over why not?” Istanbul. Welcome federationscomingherelooking the last two four-year cycles. He praised the Turkish Basketball Federa- to the World Con- “The federations are working hard on behalf tion for its work in organising both the World gress.” forknow-howandhelpbecauseof of basketball and the best federations do a really Congress and the World Championship. Bob Elphinston, thatphenomenalgrowth.” outstanding job. And of course the game really “In a few days we will crown a world cham- FIBA President Patrick Baumann, sells itself because it is athletic, fast and very pion in this fantastic country, which has been a FIBA Secretary General exciting.” perfect host to us.” Eurobasket Lithuaniaaimstoimpress withEurobasket2011 Lithuania may be a small country, but it has big ambitions for Eurobasket 2011, according to Olafur Rafnsson, President of FIBA Europe. And the nation of 3.5 million people, hosting the event for the second time and the first since independence was restored in 1991, is on target to deliver a winning tournament. “The preparations are going according to schedule,” said Rafnsson speaking after visiting the recent U-18 European Championship in the country. “The excellent organisation does not leave anything but opti- mism for the local organising committee to deliver great work. “I was pleased to be present at an impressive final game where an attendance record of 13,000 spectators for this age category was set in a sold-out Siemens Arena in Vilnius.” commissioners, instructors, judges, as well as staff members of the organisation. Eurobasket 2011 will feature 16 national teams, including of FIBA Europe.” “Lithuania is passionate for basketball, and having visited the host nation, title holders Spain, Turkey, Greece, Russia The organisation of Eurobasket 2011 involved a collabora- their motivated administration I´m quite sure they will – in Germany and France. The competition, scheduled to run tive effort involving the Lithuania federation, the zone and addition to conventional promotion – introduce new promo- between September 3 – 18, will be staged at six venues, FIBA itself. tional components – as well as breaking records of the past, including two newly-built arenas in “The European basketball family has such as the remarkable Guinness Book of Records which Kaunas and Klaipeda. proven to be a well functioning struc- saw 31.004 people bouncing basketball at the same time, set The final will be held at the new Zalgiris ture when it comes to organising high in Poland at EuroBasket 2009.” Arena in Kaunas, which is scheduled for level events,” he said. “Obviously, as Expect great things from The Lithuania event, concluded completion later this year. the owner of the event, the role of FIBA Rafnsson. Rafnsson said: “A great number of Europe is to support, supervise and “I was a member of the Board of FIBA Europe who in people are already directly or indirectly govern all aspects – on behalf of all our November 2004 awarded the EuroBasket 2011 event to involved, while dedicated employees on member federations in Europe.” Lithuania, and surely this was a challenging decision for a behalf of the local organising committee Lithuania rates basketball as its number population of merely 3,5 million people. are between 10-20, and will be growing one sport and is aiming to put on a world- “We feel support by public authorities, both at municipal in number as the event gets closer. This class event, said Rafnsson. and governmental levels, and above all by the people of will be supplemented by a huge number “In Europe we enjoy the competitive Lithuania. Basketball is sport number one in Lithuania, they of volunteers.” passion among our member federations are highly motivated and skillful in promoting both players He added: “The event involves a for growing basketball. The success and events. great number of people from both local of every EuroBasket event is a new “I´m convinced that they will put on a spectacular sources, volunteers and employed starting point for the next organiser, who show of our sport, and at the same time give pride to their personnel – in addition to the referees, Olafur Rafnsson, President of FIBA Europe. definitely wants to improve every aspect country.” U17 Tournamentstructurecomesofage The launch of the FIBA U17 World the national federations which have senior level in a few years. Championships for Men and Women been incentivised to ensure that qualify- “In the Women’s event, France took has proved hugely successful and ing tournaments, teams and individuals the silver medal and Belgium came means that basketball’s governing are in place to support the new world- fourth, playing really nice basketball.” body has created the right structure wide events. The real significance of the launch for the sport world-wide, according to The USA won both the Men’s and of the U17 age group events is that it Jubilation: The USA winning team in the inaugural U17 Championship. FIBA Sports Director Lubomir Kotleba. Women’s U17 events which probably finally resolves the long-term structure The inaugural Men’s and Women’s did not come as a surprise, but Kotleba of world tournaments, said Kotleba. were still too old for that format. I the cities of Rodez and Toulouse. Kotleba U17 championships were staged in pointed out that the tournaments were In the past, FIBA had run an U23 now think that we have the age levels said that developing a tournament at this Germany and France respectively this notable for the number competition, but it right and what looks like a really good level enabled smaller cities to play host past July. of unfancied teams that tended to be under- structure,” Kotleba explained. to world events. Kotleba, who attended both inau- did well. mined because many The new championships also had a “These events were played in freak gural tournaments, said: “They were “In the Men’s tourna- of the players were positive impact at zone and federation heat wave conditions where the tem- excellently organised and supported ment, Poland took the already good enough level. “The whole game had a power- peratures were hitting 35 degrees (cen- and were a very big success.