LILLE (EuroBasket 2015) - FIBA on Tuesday presented its new system of competition that comes into effect in 2017 to the media accredited at EuroBasket 2015 in Lille as well as to a number of its European National Member Federations.

FIBA Executive Director Europe, Mr Kamil Novak, FIBA Sport and Competitions Director, Mr Predrag Bogosavljev and FIBA Communications Director, Mr Patrick Koller, were the main speakers at a press conference and workshop with the National Federations held at Hotel Barriere.

They explained the many advantages of the new concept which involves the qualifiers for each major FIBA competition taking place in 15-month cycles with national teams playing regular home and away games to qualify.

The project will tip off in Europe and around the world in November 2017 with the Qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The teams in Europe will be classified into Division A and Division B to qualify for both the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and 2021 FIBA EuroBasket Cup.

"There is no doubt that the national teams are the locomotive of European basketball," Mr Novak said.

"Today only a few countries are lucky enough to see their teams play at home if they are hosts of tournaments.

"This will change with the new calendar system where fans will have the opportunity to support their national team at home on a regular basis, in a clear lead up to FIBA flagship events.

Mr Bogosavljev explained that the new system will bring additional basketball exposure with more than 140 countries taking part, which means a total of 1,250 regular and competition games worldwide.

"It will offer more opportunities for emerging countries and players; more potential for commercial partners to be associated with National Teams.

"It is a player-friendly system which includes one free summer in every four year cycle to maximise the opportunity for international stars to play at FIBA competitions."

The meeting with the National Federations is the first of many that FIBA Europe is expected to hold in the coming months.

You can find extended details about the new competition system here.

See below for a video describing in detail the new competition system.

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About FIBA

FIBA (fiba.com) – the world governing body for basketball – is an independent association formed by 215 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
 
For further information about FIBA visit fiba.com or follow FIBA on facebook.com/fiba,twitter.com/fiba, instagram.com/fiba and youtube.com/fiba.