The FIBA Central Board met on 24th – 25th May 2003 for the 3rd session during its 2003 – 2006 term of office.

Newly appointed Secretary General, Patrick Baumann, made an extensive report to the Central Board of his first months’ of activities, highlighting the introduction of FIBA’s new brand earlier in April, the finalized strategic master plan for FIBA for 2003 -2010 as well as FIBA’s involvement in
the activities of WADA, ASOIF, and the IOC.

At the central meeting the following decisions were
made: World Championship for Junior Men 2003

The World Championship for Junior Men has been moved from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Thessaloniki, Greece. Greece stepped forward to host the event due to the recent outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the Asian region; the championship will take place on
the dates foreseen, July 10 – 20, 2003. The competition system and the participating teams will remain unchanged. Due to the change in the organizing country, the starting times of the games in the Preliminary Round could be amended.

World Championship for Men 2006

The Japanese Basketball Association (JABBA), as organiser of the 2006 World Championship for Men approved the increase of the participants’ fields from 16 to 24 teams. For the first time FIBA will introduce the wild card system and invite four teams out of the 24. The other teams 20 teams will qualified through Zone championship (except Japan as host) as follows: Africa 3 places, Asia 2 place,
Europe 6 places, Americas 5 places, Oceania 2 places.

Rule Changes

The rule changes that were proposed by the Technical Commission in May 2003 were accepted: – The 24 second rule: Whilst a shot from the court, the ball is in the air and the 24 second signal sounds, if the ball touches the rim, the game will no longer be stopped.

For further information please contact:
Florian Wanninger
Head of Communications
Tel.: +41-22-54 500 00
Fax: +41-22-54 500 99
email: communications@fiba.com
web: www.fiba.com