BANGKOK - The SportAccord Convention 2018 concluded on Friday and, as has customarily been the case over the years, FIBA made the most of its time at the annual gathering - which brings together representatives from more than 100 international sports federations and organizations - to strengthen existing connections and make new ones.

Secretary General Patrick Baumann and Treasurer Ingo Weiss headed FIBA delegation's taking part in the six-day (April 15-20) event held in Thailand's capital city of Bangkok.

This year, FIBA's booth focused on two key areas:

• Its 3x3 discipline, which achieved Olympic status last year and will make its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
• The International Basketball Foundation (IBF), the social, educational and legacy arm of FIBA which addresses the role of sports - and particularly basketball - in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.

Baumann and Weiss met with a wide range of stakeholders from within the FIBA Family as well as from other sports.

Baumann teamed up with FIBA Oceania Regional Director David Crocker to hold talks with a delegation of the Basketball Sport Association of Thailand (BSAT). The discussions were wide-ranging in nature and highlighted the growth of basketball in the country.

To capitalize on this basketball boom, FIBA offered to organize coaching courses in the country to help discover and foster the next generation of players. This is in line with FIBA's pillar on National Federations Support and Development. 

"With the profile of basketball growing in Thailand, BAST is doing a great job of getting more people playing, particularly through 3x3. FIBA will work with them to support their development through some coaching clinics across Thailand," said Crocker.

Meanwhile, Hans Natorp, Vice-President of the Sports Confederation of Denmark - the country's National Olympic Committee (NOC) - dropped by the FIBA booth and had an informal chat with Weiss during which they discussed how the NOC can help the Danish Basketball Federation (DBBF) to further the sport's development in the Scandinavian territory.

FIBA Treasurer Ingo Weiss and Vice-President of the Sports Confederation of Denmark Hans Natorp

"Denmark's NOC wants to do its part so that the basketball federation can get the most out of our game. A lot of schools in the country are asking about our sport," said Weiss. "We talked about the potential that 3x3 has to offer and the NOC expressed its support for FIBA's Competition System as Denmark are playing in the Pre-Qualifiers for FIBA EuroBasket 2021.

"I look forward to meeting with the Danish Basketball Federation so that together with them and the NOC, we can find the best ways to grow basketball in the country."

FIBA