INVITATION We cordially invite your team to the Baltic Cup Open to - the capital of Basketball!

Baltic Cup Open is a tournament featuring the strongest participating teams from , and in different age and gender categories.

Dates: August 26-27, 2017

Venue: Sabonio Sports Centre (Pašilės Street 41, Kaunas 51358, Lithuania) with 4 courts

Participants’ countries:  Estonia  Latvia  Lithuania (host of BC 2017)  *wild card

Age categories:  Men 40+; 45+, 50+; 55+; 60+; 65+; 70+  Women 35+; 40+; 45+; 50+, 55+ Age determined at December 31, 2017.

Participants: Men teams:  The rights to participate in Baltic Cup 2017 belong to the Champions of the Championships of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania of the corresponding age category in season 2016/2017.  If champion waives the rights to participate, the vice-champion takes over the rights.  A team has consisted of the players who played in that team in season 2016/2017. Only two players could be added from the other team/teams. Women teams:  The first hand rights to participate in Baltic Cup 2017 belong to the Champions of the Championships of the corresponding country in season 2016/2017  If champion waives the rights to participate or any of participant country hadn’t organized the Championship between women teams in season 2016/2017, the Representative of the respective country has the rights to delegate to the Baltic Cup a national team of the corresponding age category.  Only two younger players (max 2 years) could be added to the respective age category.

Competition format: Minimum eight age categories from each country (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) have to be represented in Baltic Cup.

The host - Lithuanian Organizer has rights to attract the 4th team in each age category as a wild card.

Who can qualify for a *wildcard?  The team from any other country are acceptable;  If there are no candidates from other countries, a second team from the host country is acceptable.  If any of the teams from Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania refuses to participate, an additional wildcard will be available.

At least 2 teams have to apply in each age category, with a maximum of 4.  4-team format: Teams are playing Semi-Finals and the Finals: o Pair I of Semi-Final: Latvia vs Estonia o Pair II of Semi-Final: Lithuania vs *wild card;  3-team format: Teams play each other. Guests play in two days (one game per day), host team plays two games per day;  2-team format: Teams play each other (4x8 min) twice or only one full time game (by mutual agreement of parties) In case of non-defined situations, the host - Lithuanian Organizer has rights to choose a competition format.

Playing rules: The official FIBA basketball rules, except the playing time. It sets at 4 x 8 minute quarters.

Awards: The winner of each age category will be awarded with the Baltic Cup trophy. Each team will be awarded with sponsorship gifts and with the certificate of its participation and team’s placement in Baltic Cup.

Tournament Entry fee of 200 Euros (tournament final event and meals included).

Official website will be open in the middle of February, 2017 http://esba-basket.com/baltic-cup- 2017/.

Sincerely Yours,

Vitoldas Masalskis Inese Mikelsone +370 610 21054 +371 29196624 [email protected] [email protected] http://www.vklyga.lt/ www.esba-basket.com