The Interim Congress of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) took place from Patrick Baumann Basketball House in Switzerland, a first for FIBA, online, with the participation of delegates from 161 national federations.
The Interim Congress was attended by FIBA Central Board Members, Executive Directors from FIBA’s five regional offices, and FIBA Commission Chairs online.
Delegates were presented with reports on FIBA activities that have taken place since the 21st FIBA Congress in Beijing, China, in August 2019. In addition to FIBA President Hamane Niang and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis; FIBA Treasurer Ingo Weiss and FIBA Foundation Director Florian Wanninger also addressed the congress. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, International Olympic Committee Sports Director Kit McConnell and FIBA Foundation President Horacio Muratore also shared a message with the congress.
In his speech, FIBA President Hamane Niang said: “Since March 2020, FIBA has made great efforts to support the basketball community as much as it can, despite the lack of a conducive environment for our sport to be played. In addition to all these efforts, we wanted to continue our work on behalf of you, our members. For the next two years, we will continue our work based on the strategic goals we set together at the last congress, and on the principles of unity and solidarity that have helped us a lot during this epidemic.”
The Congress presents a new version of the FIBA General Statutes, with significant changes aimed at advancing gender principles in line with FIBA’s Women in Basketball strategy, clarifying the possibility of holding official meetings via video conferences, and bringing digital forms of basketball, particularly esports, into FIBA’s scope. accepted. Other revisions to the general statute were also approved during the congress. The Congress also follows Article 10.6 of the FIBA General Statutes of the Central Board. Voted to approve the proposal to expel the Peruvian Basketball Federation (FDPB) according to article.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said; Along with a comprehensive report on FIBA’s activities and how FIBA is responding to the pandemic, it provided a comprehensive report on FIBA’s strategic objectives for 2019-2027, focusing on current activities regarding three strategic priorities for the period 2019-2023. The three strategic priorities in the report; It included empowering national federations, women in basketball, and expanding the FIBA family. Zagklis concluded by talking about both FIBA’s upcoming summer series of events and the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022, which will be held in Australia.
FIBA Secretary General Zagklis said: “We also learned that there are advantages arising from difficult situations and that FIBA and national federations have tremendous operational and executive capacity. We should feel that we are empowered by the successes of the basketball family and look forward to our activities that will further our strategic goals.”
