The General Assembly of the Standing Conference of FIBA-Europe met in Munich today for an extraordinary session for elections for the President and members of the European Board. Other issues were the future of the European Club Competitions. All 50 affiliated national federations of Europe were present at the meeting.
1. Elections
The Assembly voted Mr. George Vassilokopoulos from Greece as
President of FIBA-Europe. In a first reaction he stated, ‘I am ready to work hard in a spirit of unity, in order to defend and improve the role of the national federations and FIBA in European basketball. The creation of the new, autonomous FIBA-Europe will be now my first priority’.
Mr. Marek Palus, Poland, was voted as President of the Commission for Legal Matters and Eligibility and Mr. Dan Kesten, Israel, as President of the Commission for European Competitions.
The following representatives were also voted as members to the Board: Mr. Turgay Demirel, Turkey, Mr. Walther Kaszelik, Austria, Mr. Peter Klingbiel, Germany, Mr. Fausto Maifredi, Italy, Mrs. Lena Wallin Kantzy, Sweden and Mr. Jiri Zednicek, Czech Republic.
Furthermore, the following Presidents were appointed by the General Assembly: President of the Appeals Commission Mr. Antonio Mizzi, Malta; the President of the Council for Young People, Mr. Asterios Zois, Greece; President of the Finance Council Mr. Turgay Demirel, and the Permanent
Commissioner for the Small Countries, Mr. John Gonçalves, Gibraltar. Also appointed to the Commission for European Club Competitions were Mr. Jean-Pierre Siutat, France, and Mr. Kosta Iliev, Bulgaria, who replace Mrs. Wallin Kantzy and Mr. Zois who resigned due to their other duties on the
Board.
The complete European Board is now comprised as follows:
President: Mr. George Vassilokopoulos
Vice-President: Mr. Keith Mitchell
Secretary General: Mr. Borislav Stankovic
Treasurer: Mr. Manfred Ströher
Members:
Mrs. Brigitte Melbye Mr. Turgay Demirel
Mr. Valdu Suurkask Mr. Marek Palus
Mr. Dan Kesten Mr. Jan Berteling
Mr. Alexander Boshkov Mrs. Marion Grethen
Mr. Rimas Kurtinaitis, Mr. Valery Kuzin
Mr. Boris Lalic Mr. Dusan Sesok
Mr. Walther Kaszelik Mr. Peter Klingbiel
Mr. Fausto Maifredi Mrs. Lena Wallin Kantzy
Mr. Jiri Zednicek
Ex-officio members:
Mr. Patrick Baumann Mr. Kenneth Charles
Mr. Cesare Rubini Mr. Anton Comas
Mr. Asterios Zois Mr. Antonio Mizzi
The Assembly additionally approved the proposal to add to the 7 members of the working group which will study the new structure of FIBA-Europe, the new President Mr. George Vassilokopoulos, Mr. Ernesto Segura de Luna from Spain and Mr. Cyriel Coomans from Belgium. The working group is currently comprised of Mr. Roland Geggus (Germany), Mr. Dan Kesten (Israel), Mr. Valery Kuzin (Russia), Mr. Antonio Mizzi (Malta), Mr. Marek Palus (Poland), Mr. Algimantas Pavilonis (Lithuania) and Mr. Asterios Zois (Greece). The group will meet for its first working session tomorrow 8th
July, in the FIBA offices. Mr. Patrick Baumann, Deputy Secretary General of FIBA, will act as Secretary/Co-ordinator for this working group.
2. European Club Competitions
The Saporta Cup
The competition will be played with 24 clubs, divided into 6 groups of 4 clubs each. The 4 best-placed clubs from each group will qualify for the Eighth-Finals, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Final which will be played as home/away games. The Final will be played on 30th April 2002 in a city yet to be determined.
The Korac Cup
Each European national federation will be entitled to enter a maximum of 4 clubs. In Elimination Rounds 1 and 2 the number of clubs will be reduced to 64 and 32 respectively, which will then play in 8 groups of 4 clubs in round robin system. The 2 best-placed clubs in each group will qualify for the Eighth-Finals, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final which will be played as home/away games. The Finals will be played as home/away games on 10th and 17th April 2002.
EuroLeague Women and Ronchetti Cup
These competitions will be played according to the decision made in Messina, Italy in April of this year. For the EuroLeague Women 16 clubs will play in two groups of 8, the 4 best-placed clubs will proceed to the Quarter Final Play-Offs. The winners of the Play-Offs will play a Final Four. The site of the Final Four will only be decided after the four participants are known and will be assigned to a city of the four finalists.
The Ronchetti Cup will be played in the same format as the Korac Cup (see above).
3. Draw for European Club Competitions
The Draw for Saporta Cup and EuroLeague Women will take place on 30th July 2001 at the Kempinski Airport Hotel in Munich. The draw for Korac and Ronchetti Cups will take place at the same hotel on 27th October 2001.
4. Declaration of the General Assembly regarding the EuroLeague Men
The extraordinary General Assembly of FIBA-Europe declares its readiness to work together with ULEB for the good of club basketball in Europe and asks the Board to continue the discussions with ULEB, NEBL and all other regional
organisations concerning their relationship with FIBA-Europe and the future of European Club Competitions.
For further information, please contact:
Joanna Sutherland
Press Assistant
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