FIBA concludes historic visit to Cuba

HABANA (Americas) - The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) concluded a historic visit to Cuba that included successful meetings with government officials, the national basketball federation, and the media.

FIBA Central Board Member Mr. Jose Luis Saez and FIBA Americas Regional Director Mr. Alberto Garcia led the delegation for which the overall goal was the explanation of FIBA’s New Competition System and Calendar as a tool for the development of the sport in the country.

"The Cuban National Team is the leading force for the development of our sport in the country and with the implementation of FIBA’s New Competition System, the basketball fans in the country will be able to enjoy National Team games at home, something that has not occurred in Cuba since the country hosted the FIBA Americas Women’s Championship in 1999," said the Regional Director of FIBA Americas, Mr. Alberto Garcia.

"FIBA is here to implement a group that will work together in unity to elaborate a project that suits the endeavors of the International Basketball Federation and Cuba’s sports authorities. We want to create a new era for Cuban Basketball, and this is an excellent start," said FIBA Central Board Member, Mr. Jose Luis Saez.

Cuba, finished sixth at the 2016 Centrobasket Championship, and will play FIBA New Competition System Division A Qualification Tournament in 2017, against Bahamas, Nicaragua, Chile, Paraguay, and Bolivia.

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.

This new system will serve as a qualifier to the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup World Cup and that for the first time in its history will have 32 participating teams (7 from the Americas). Qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will go through the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and four Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

FIBA