The contract of Patrick Baumann as secretary general of FIBA, the international basketball federation, has been extended until 2031 by FIBA’s central board.

At a meeting at the weekend, the central board also approved the finalised version of the FIBA Women’s National Team Competitions System that will come into effect in November 2019.

The new system sets out the road to all of FIBA’s main women’s events - the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, the Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament and the FIBA Women's Continental Cups - over a four-year cycle, starting with the period 2019-2022.

Baumann (pictured left), who is also an International Olympic Committee member, has been FIBA secretary general since 2003, with his contract having been initially renewed until 2022 in 2010.

Horacio Muratore, FIBA’s president (pictured right), said: “We are really pleased with the work of Patrick Baumann. He has helped FIBA become a solid organisation thanks to the implementation of concrete measures such as the introduction of a new, efficient modern structure and governance system, which unites the whole FIBA family, integrates its key stakeholders and protects our values; the construction of the House of Basketball, our first and very own purpose-built headquarters; and the signing of long-term commercial partnerships, providing for a stable and strong financial foundation which supports all of the FIBA family for the next decade.

“From a sporting perspective, he has been instrumental in the development of our new competition system that came into effect last year as well as the successful launch of 3x3, which has now become an Olympic discipline. These accomplishments, among others, have contributed greatly to FIBA's vision of making basketball the most popular sports community.

“The Board felt it therefore essential to ensure stability in our work on the agreed roadmap towards this vision with Mr. Baumann at the helm of FIBA.”

In relation to the new Women’s National Team Competitions System. FIBA said: “Much like the new competition system launched for the men in November 2017 with the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers, this one specially devised for the women will make it possible to:

• “establish a clear ‘Road to’ the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup during which teams will earn their places for the showpiece event by way of Qualifiers, instead of through the FIBA Women's Continental Cups

• “enable Continental Cups to be the ultimate standalone tournaments where regional champions are crowned

• “clarify the qualifying process for all other women's competitions, with a separation of events' qualifiers

• “enhance the exposure of women's basketball with more regular national team activity in all regions throughout the year

• “increase inclusion and competitiveness as more teams and players participate in each region's qualification phase.”

Sportcal