FIBA Europe Board approves EuroBasket change
MADRID - The FIBA Europe Board has approved a major change in the competition system of the EuroBasket finals format as of 2017, dispensing of the Second Round and moving into the elimination rounds directly after the First phase. The decision, Saturday, means a much shorter tournament in duration and reflects an effort by FIBA Europe to make its flagship ...
MADRID - The competition system of EuroBasket will be modified from 2017 after the FIBA Europe Board approved changes to make the tournament shorter in duration.
There will no longer be a second round phase, with teams jumping straight into the elimination rounds after the initial group phase, with FIBA Europe attempting to make its’ flagship tournament even more attractive.
The decision was taken after a series of consultations and subsequent recommendations from a group of stakeholders involved in the game.
Hosted by the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), there were also several other significant decisions made at the meeting, with current Secretary General, Kamil Novak having his contract extended until 2016.
A recommendation to elevate the recently deceased President Olafur Rafnsson to the status of Honorary FIBA Europe member, posthumously was also approved.
The Board also confirmed the 2014 European Youth Championships host countries, with the cities to be determined early in the New Year.
Men: U20 Men Division A –Greece, U20 Men Division B: Bosnia and Herzegovina, U18 Men Division A: Turkey, U18 Men Division B: Ukraine, U18 Men Division C: Andorra, U16 Men Division A: Latvia, U16 Men Division B: FYR of Macedonia, U16 Men Division C: Malta
Women: U20 Women Division A: Italy, U20 Women Division B: Bulgaria, U18 Women Division A: Portugal, U18 Women Division B: Romania, U18 Women Division C: Andorra, U16 Women Division A: Hungary, U16 Women Division B: Estonia, U16 Women Division C: Malta
In addition to the changes implemented at senior level for EuroBasket, FIBA Europe have also implemented an ongoing review of youth basketball, with a meeting of performance directors taking place in Munich recently.
A select group of basketball authorities from throughout Europe came together to provide and share their own experiences from developing youth programmes.
Amongst the issues discussed were the summer youth calendar of FIBA Europe, systems of development for young players, the availability of players for their national teams and future strategies of the respective Federations.
FIBA