FIBA - Profile of 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup wild card candidate: Turkey

MIES (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - On 1 February 2014, FIBA's Central Board will announce the national teams that will be the recipients of the four wild cards to complete the field at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Fifteen national teams from across four FIBA zones submitted their applications for the wild cards. They all participated in their respective 2013 continental championships which are qualifying tournament for FIBA's flagship event in Spain next year (30 August-14 September 2014).

The 15 candidates are: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Turkey and Venezuela.

In the lead-up to the decision on 1 February, we will profile all 15 applicants.

Today we look at Turkey (TUR).

Recent history in international competitions: Playing in their 11th consecutive continental championship, Turkey opened EuroBasket 2013 with defeats at the hands of Finland, Italy and Greece before beating Sweden 87-74. They lost their last game to Russia to finish 1-4. In 2001, the Turks made it all the way to the Final of the European Championship played on home soil to claim their first medal in senior international competitions. They last got as far as the Final Eight of the EuroBasket in 2009. Turkey's other highlight came at the 2010 FIBA World Championship - also played at home - where they reached the Final and took another silver medal. The Turks played in two editions of FIBA's flagship event: in 2002 in Indianapolis (where they finished ninth) and in 2006 in Japan (where they came in sixth after receiving a wild card). Turkey have two Olympic appearances to their credit, but none since 1952.

Turgay Demirel, the President of the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF), took time to make his country's case for receiving a wild card.

FIBA: What are the three main reasons why Turkey deserves to receive a wild card to participate in the 2014 FIBA World Cup?
Demirel: 1. A proven commitment to basketball's future. The Turkish Basketball Federation is strongly committed to the development of basketball at home and abroad. This support ranges from hosting international events, to constructing world-class basketball facilities across the country, to sponsoring FIBA tournaments. Basketball's association with sports success - unrivalled by any other sport in Turkey - is what makes basketball the second most popular sport in Turkey. Turkey's participation in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup will sustain interest in the sport among our stakeholders and support our efforts to develop the game throughout Turkey. 2. A regional basketball hub. With a population of 75 million, one quarter of which is under the age of 14, Turkey is one of the world's most promising basketball markets. According to a study conducted by the research firm Ipsos, 54 percent of Turkish sports fans follow basketball; 78 percent of parents encourage their children to participate in youth sports and nearly half of them prefer basketball. Basketball could transform the country's sporting culture. With appearances in international tournaments, the impact of that shift will be felt from the Balkans, to the Middle East, to Central Asia. 3. A Medal Contender. Turkey is the reigning silver medallists in FIBA's flagship event and are ranked seventh in the FIBA Ranking Men. In the last decade, it has proven repeatedly that it is among the world's elite teams and thus should have an opportunity to defend its medal in Spain.

FIBA: If given a wild card, how competitive can we expect Turkey to be and how confident are you that the team will feature all its leading/best players?
Demirel: For our players, the national team jersey is an unequaled source of pride. At EuroBasket 2013, EuroBasket 2011 and the 2010 FIBA World Championship, Turkey's best players - including NBA players like Omer Asik and Ersan Ilyasova - have been committed to representing their country. Furthermore, as many of our national team players compete in the BEKO Basketball League, when they step out on the court in Turkey they feel the impact the national team's success has had on the public's embrace of basketball. The TBF also does everything to facilitate its players' participation in international tournaments.

FIBA: How will having your national team play at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup help the growth, development and popularity of the sport in your country?
Demirel: In the TBF strategic plan, medal-winning performances at international tournaments are critical. International success drives increased youth participation, which grows the talent pool and leads to greater international success. Since hosting EuroBasket in 2001, and winning a silver medal, the men's national team has become a cultural phenomenon. After back-to-back EuroBasket Women medals, the women's national team has achieved unprecedented success in the history of Turkish women's sports. Following the 2010 FIBA World Championship, enrollment in basketball schools increased by 300 percent. Our 12 Giant Men Basketball Academies attract more basketball players than ever before. Turkey's hosting of the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women alongside the men's participation in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup would provide an unprecedented opportunity for the youth of Turkey to be inspired. The TBF is ready to capitalise on this opportunity.

FIBA: What do you consider as the greatest moment in your country's basketball history?
Demirel: On the night of 11 September 2010, the streets of Istanbul were empty. Across Turkey and in Turkish communities around the world, fans were glued to their televisions, watching one of the most exciting basketball games in recent memory. Turkey defeated Serbia in the Semi-Finals of the 2010 FIBA World Championship and secured its first medal on the world's biggest stage. Turks remember where they were and who they were with when the final buzzer sounded. More importantly, our team showed Turkey's youth the beauty of basketball and undoubtedly inspired a new generation of players. Fifteen years from now, if you ask a Turkish national team player when they fell in love with basketball, there is a good chance they will say 11 September 2010.

Key facts and figures and additional information about basketball in Turkey
• Licensed players: 44,156 men, 9,746 women
• Silverware since 2001: 17 European Championship medals; 1 FIBA World Championship medal
• European and World Championship events hosted (including 2014): 8

FIBA