Tribute to Wetzlar, the world capital of wheelchair basketball

Everyone in the small German town seemed to get involved with the European Champions Cup finals.

FAN NEWS (Utku Ertan, Sportingo) - I first went to theGerman town of  Wetzlar in 2005 during the Champions Cup Finals where I was nominated as a non delegation referee.

With a busy schedule, we didn't have enough time to know the place.

However, wheelchair basketball is well promoted in the city.

The team of Wetzlar, Lahn-Dill, have dominated Europe in the last few years, winning the European Championship title in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and is well supported by nearly 1,000 spectators. They have a small band and a mascot cheering on the team and the people.

When I experienced this atmosphere I remember saying to myself: “I wish we had this kind of promotion for wheelchair basketball in our country.”

Anyway, after two years, a European Championship of Men and Women, again in Wetzlar, was great in every respect.

Games in August Babel and Rittal Arena attracted many spectators, and the media.

The President of Lahn Dill and the local organizing committee, Andreas Joneck, and his crew achieved a great success and increased the awareness of wheelchair basketball not only in Europe but also in the world.

The opening ceremony was like a mini Olympic Games. Mr. Joneck succeeded in involving the people of Wetzlar either as a driver, team host, volunteer, waiter or even spectator.

Personally, I would like to award the title of "The Capital of Wheelchair Basketball" to Wetzlar.

The organisers have shown that Germany is one of the leading countries in wheelchair basketball by getting the support of world wide brands like Audi, Spalding, German Wheelchair Sports Federation, local organizations and civil organizations.

This town should be taken as a role model by other countries.

As a result I would like to congratulate the LOC once again for promoting this wonderful sport, wheelchair basketball.

I also would like to thank all the volunteers, drivers and people of Wetzlar for making us feel that we were a part of their family.

I hope to see Wetzlar and the friends there in the near future

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* This article is written by a basketball fan and is based on personnal opinions that does not reflect the views of FIBA. Fan articles are part of the Sportingo Network and are brought to you for discussion & opinion matters.