KARLOVY VARY (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) – For the first time ever, FIBA is organising a conference specially dedicated to women’s basketball.

The inaugural event will take place this weekend (Saturday-Sunday 2nd-3rd October) in the famous Grand Hotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, site of the final round of the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women.

The interest expressed in the conference so far has been exceptional with more than 100 participants from over 50 countries all around the world having registered.

FIBA expects the two-day event to make for fruitful discussions on the challenges and the opportunities in the women’s game.

"This conference serves a long-time need," said FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Baumann. "In order to keep pace with the growth of the men’s game, we have to tackle a couple of issues like calendar, promotion and event management. The women’s game has huge potential and we are far from having fulfilled it fully."

A number of high-profile speakers and experts will contribute to the conference.

Herewith is the full programme of the Women’s Basketball Conference.

2nd October 2010
10:00-10:45 Opening of the Conference
Speakers:
Mr Bob ELPHINSTON, Chairman of the Conference
Mr Yvan MAININI, FIBA President
Ms Lorraine LANDON, FIBA Women’s Commission President
Mr Lubomir KOTLEBA, FIBA Sports Director

10:45-11:30 View from the Top
Speakers:
Mr Larry SENGSTOCK (AUS)
Mr Sergey CHERNOV (RUS)
Mr Jim TOOLEY (USA)

11:30-12:30 Obstacles and Challenges
Speakers:
Mr Milos PRAZAK (CZE)
Mr Miguel HERRERA (CHI)
Ms Lena WALLIN (SWE)
Mr Guy BERTE (CIV)

13:00-14:00 Perspective from Coaches
Speakers:
Mr Tom MAHER (AUS)
Ms Natalia HEJKOVA (SVK)
Mr Geno AURIEMMA (USA)

3rd October 2010
10:00-11:00 Perspective from Players
Speakers:
Ms Esther WENDER (NED)
Ms Katie SMITH (USA)
Ms Anna JUNYER (ESP)

11:00-12:00 Organising a Women’s Event
Speakers:
Ms Lorraine LANDON (AUS)
Mr Jean-Pierre SUITAT (FRA)
Mr Tomohiro HATTORI (JPN)

12:30-13:30 How to Promote Women in Sport
Speakers:
Mr Andrew WALKER (WTA Tour)
Mr Jiri ZEDNICEK (CZE)
Ms Sylvia SWEENEY (CAN)
Ms Daniela BANZ (FIFA)
Ms Val ACKERMANN (USA)

13:30-14:00 Conclusion of the Conference
Speakers:
Mr Patrick BAUMANN, FIBA Secretary General
Mr Yvan MAININI, FIBA President


About FIBA

FIBA (www.fiba.basketball), the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). For more information on FIBA and its competitions, visit www.facebook.com/fibaworld, www.twitter.com/fibaworld and www.youtube.com/fibaworld.