SEVILLE (Spain) - The FIBA Europe Board, term of office 2019-2023, convened in Seville, Spain for its 21st meeting, on Friday, March 17, 2023. 

FIΒΑ Europe President Turgay Demirel chaired the session, with FIBA President Hamane Niang, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis and FIBA Executive Director Europe/FIBA Europe Secretary General Kamil Novak also in attendance. 

The Secretary General for Sports of the Junta de Andalusia regional government, Mr. Jose Maria Arrabal, opened the meeting by welcoming all delegates to Seville and the region. 

Following remarks by Mr. Demirel and an intervention by Mr. Niang, Mr. Novak presented his report which included an overview of all development projects under the auspices of FIBA Europe including all running Erasmus+ programs as well as an update on EU-related matters. 

Situation in Ukraine 

The Board heard statements by some members regarding the current state of affairs in Ukraine and how it does affect, in a certain manner, basketball or their approach to the sport in their own territories.

Mr. Demirel explained that the subject is a constant in all discussions and at all levels of the International Olympic Committee and all governing bodies. 

FIBA's position on the issue remains unchanged. FIBA and FIBA Europe will continue monitoring the situation and react accordingly in case of developments.

FIBA EuroBasket 2025 

The Board approved Poland's choice of the city of Katowice as host city for the Group Phase of FIBA EuroBasket 2025. Katowice joins the previously selected Tampere (Finland), Limassol (Cyprus) and Riga (Latvia) as co-host of the event.  

FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023

A report about progress in the preparation of the event was presented to the Board, including the recent successful draw in Kranj, Slovenia, which included the unveiling of the brand-new Women's EuroBasket trophy and the event mascots, Isa and Sia. 

The FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers which concluded in February saw a high-level broadcast production standard while Sweden's game against Latvia in Stockholm set a new mark for the Qualifiers with 9,425 fans in the venue.

FIBA EuroBasket 2022 

The Board was presented with an executive synopsis of an upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Host City Impact Study, prepared by an independent agency. The study will focus on all aspects affected by hosting this major event in the five cities in 2022.  

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers and FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers 

Reports were also received on the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers and the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round.  

The World Cup Qualifiers provided some exciting matchups and, once again, impressive numbers on and off the court. All eyes are now on the draw which will take place in Manila, Philippines on April 29. 

The FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers continue in late July with the Third Round which will decide the last four teams for the EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. 

Club competitions  

Status reports were received on the European club competitions, EuroLeague and EuroCup Women; FIBA Europe Cup and the Basketball Champions League as well as the Youth Basketball Champions League (YBCL) a new competition aimed at club youth teams which tips off in April this year. 

Youth Championships 

As part of the early designation initiative, Finland was approved to organize the FIBA U18 European Championship  2024. The host city will be decided at a later stage.  

The Board approved a proposal regarding the relegation and promotion from this year's FIBA U18 Women's European Championship. In case Portugal (who is the organizer of the same tournament in 2024 and therefore cannot be relegated) are among the teams ranked 14-16 in the 2023 Division A tournament, and Russia and Belarus are allowed to register for the 2024 Championships, then the team ranked 13th in the 2023 Division A event will be relegated and only the winner of the 2023 Division B tournament will be promoted to Division A. 

Other matters 

Updates were presented about the 3x3 landscape and the tournaments in 2023 and beyond as well as reports by the Treasurer, the Finance and the Small Countries Commissions. 

The next meeting of the Board and the General Assembly of 2023, including the elections for the new Board, term of office 2023-2027, will be held in Munich, Germany, May 18-20.  

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