LIB - Basketball fanatic media mogul passes away

BEIRUT (2010 FIBA World Championship for Men) - Antoine Choueiri, a media mogul credited for helping the rise of basketball in homeland of Lebanon, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 70.

A prominent businessman, Mr Choueiri died after a long battle with an undisclosed illness believed to be cancer.

He was the main advertising representative for several Arab media corporations including the An-Nahar and As-Safir newspapers, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International Television, pan-Arab Al-Jazeera satellite news channel as well as the London-based pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat and Dubai Media Incorporated.

Mr Choueiri was regarded as the founding father and chief architect of the Middle East's modern media industry and widely acknowledged as one of the most influential figures in the Arab world.

Outside of the media industry, his great passion was basketball and he succeeded in that area too by leading La Sagesse basketball club to great heights.

During his tenure as the club's chairman, the Beirut-based team won eight Lebanese league Championships, three Lebanese Cups, two Arab Clubs Championships and three Asian Basketball Club Championships.

He is credited for leading a revolution in Lebanese basketball and helping it reach international levels of competition.

Mr Choueiri is survived by his wife Rose, his two children, Pierre and Lena and seven grandchildren.

Lebanon will take part in this summer's FIBA World Championship for Men in Turkey after receiving a wild card.

They will face Spain, France, Lithuania, Canada and New Zealand in Group D of the First Round to be played in Izmir.

FIBA