Colombia committed to the FIBA’s New Competition System and Calendar

BOGOTA (Americas) - The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in the Americas announced the results of the Americas office visit to Colombia highlighting the government, federal and private enterprise commitment towards the success of FIBA’s New Competition System and Calendar set to ​​begin in November 2017.

During the visit, the delegation of the International Federation headed by its Executive Director in the Americas, Mr. Alberto Garcia, met with the Director of the Administrative Department of Sport, Recreation, physical activity and use of leisure time (COLDEPORTES )  Mrs. Clara Luz Roldán González, the President of the Colombian Olympic Committee (COC) Mr. Baltazar Medina, the President of the Colombian Basketball Federation (FECOLCESTO) Mr. Jorge Armando Garcia, media conglomerates RCN-El Tiempo and several private entities.

"We are very pleased with the reception we have had from different sectors in the country. The government, private enterprise, the basketball community and media have expressed interest and cooperative attitude with this New Competition System that is an initiative of the International Federation to give the tools to the Colombian Basketball Federation to strengthen its structure and thus help the growth of the sport moving forward.", Garcia said.

An agreement was signed between COLDEPORTES, FECOLCESTO and FIBA ​​for the development of "Vision 2024" program that has as its main objective the long-term development of basketball in the country.

"What we FIBA is currently proposing ​ to Colombia is a complete modification of the competition system for international basketball, which in turn will benefit the development of the Colombian basketball. It is undoubtedly a challenge for the leadership of FECOLCESTO. So I want to welcome the FIBA delegates by ​​reaffirming the fact that for us it is an essential opportunity that we cannot waste. Our commitment is to run this program, as long as our possibilities and resources allow us.", said Baltazar Medina, president of Colombian Olympic Committee.

"From COLDEPORTES we support all initiatives that generate passion towards sports, because it is through this that we contribute to peace, the development of social skills and improve the organizational structures for sports in our country, in this case for the Colombian Basketball Federation. They have the full backing of COLDEPORTES and Olympic Committee, with whom we have decided to work hand in hand", said Clara Luz Roldan, Director of Coldeportes.

Colombia is the third country in a program that will include visits to 23 countries of the continent carried out in three phases. The first phase is set to be completed in July, where visits to Bahamas, Chile, Cuba, Panama, Dominican Republic and Venezuela are also scheduled. Paraguay and Uruguay were previously visited.

The new FIBA Calendar and Competition System from 2017 onwards opens a new era for basketball all over the world - one which features 1,680 top players during 1,200 national teams games and millions of fans all around the globe.

It serves as a qualifier to the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup set to be played in China and also to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.


FIBA