MADRID - Miguel Cardenal, the President of the Spanish Superior Sports Council (CSD) on Wednesday awarded the country's Royal Order of Merit for Sport to former FIBA President and current International Basketball Foundation (IBF) President Yvan Mainini and FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann.

The titles were bestowed upon Mr Mainini and Mr Baumann to thank them for organising the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which has been recognised as the best basketball event ever held in Spain.

Mr Cardenal praised the two men for the great services rendered to the country by having it host FIBA's flagship event.

Also on hand for the special ceremony in the Spanish capital were Horacio Muratore, Mr Mainini's successor as FIBA President, and Jose Luis Saez, the President of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) and a member of FIBA's Executive Committee.

Mr Cardenal said: "Your invaluable contributions have in turn generated a big push for basketball in Spain. This is why we are seeing the development of projects to spread the sport's value all over our country. To thank you for this, I award you our biggest honour."

Mr Mainini was "honoured" to receive the prestigious prize and also praised FEB, calling them "an example [to others] because of their organisation, management and innovation". He also pointed out that "2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup marks a new era for the future of basketball".

Mr Baumann expressed his gratitude for what he called "a great personal honour" and stressed that last summer's event in Spain was "extraordinary" and stood out as "the best-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup".

He described FEB as "an incredible partner for projects to develop basketball, not only in Spain, but all over the whole world" and also expressed huge confidence that the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup - the next project that FIBA and the Spanish Federation are working on together - will be a resounding success.

"FIBA is extremely thankful to FEB. The whole world of basketball owes a debt to Spain."

Mr Saez said: "Thanks to our work and collaboration with FIBA, we have seen a World Cup which has been a complete success - economically, socially and in terms of promotion. We look forward to continue working on projects with FIBA and we will push to make the women's event the best it can be. With our programme 'Universo Mujer' (Women's Universe), we have the challenge to make the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup the best it can be."

FIBA