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New Calendar and Competition Format Decisions from FIBA

The Central Board of FIBA met on 16th and 17th November 2002 for the 2nd session during its 2003 – 2006 term of office in Geneva, Switzerland. The following decisions
were made:

Harmonisation of Calendar

Following the proposal of the Commission for International Competitions, the Board has approved to harmonise the international basketball calendar for national teams
in the following way:

  • July – August Olympic Games
  • 25th August – 30th September World Championship for Men and Women
  • 1st July – 30th September Continental Championship for Men and Women

    • This would enable FIBA for the first time to have all its international competitions on a regional and world level within a fixed time period. The club competitions therefore
    would no longer be interrupted for national team competitions. The summer months shall also include a period of holidays for players.

    Twenty Four teams at World Championship for Men

    The Board has in principle approved to increase the number of participating teams from 16 to 24 which would better reflect the raised standard of national teams throughout the world. This decision is subject to final discussions with the Local Organizing Committee of the 2006 edition in Japan. If agreements with all parties involved are reached, the following will apply :

    Host 1 place
    Africa 3 places
    Asia 3 places
    Europe 6 places
    Americas 5 places
    Oceania 2 places
    Invited by FIBA 4 places

    4 groups of 6 teams would play in a round robin format. The 4 best teams of each group would continue to play in ‘knock-out’ system the Eighth -Finals, Quarter-Finals, and medal round. Classification games would be played only
    for positions 1-8.

    The championship would be played in 5 cities and would last 16 or 17 days for a total of 80 games.

    New World competitions

    The Board has acknowledged the need for new and more regular World Competitions of the highest possible quality, especially for national teams.

    The following proposals will be further studied:

  • A FIBA Nations Cup (working title) for national teams which would be played in the odd years immediately after the Continental Championships with the participation of the five continental champions and the hosting country. This
    competition could start as early as 2005.
  • A FIBA Diamond Ball for national teams for men and women which would be played in 2004 and further Olympic Years, shortly before the Olympic Basketball tournament. This competition, which is based on the experience of the FIBA Diamond Ball held in Hong Kong in 2000, will be an invitational tournament with 6 teams who have qualified for the Olympic Games. The Yugoslav Basketball Federation has been assigned to organize the 2004 event for men.
  • A World Club Championship for Women which would include 10 clubs from all around the world. Invited clubs would play in two phases, in the first phase in two groups of 4 clubs and in the final phase with the best two of the first
    phase and two more invited clubs. The first phase would be played in May, the second phase in October.
  • A 3 on 3 World Tour will be studied which allows for an official and FIBA sanctioned world event.

    • New Corporate Identity of FIBA

    Following the decision of the FIBA Central Board from May 2002, a proposal for a new visual identity of FIBA has been presented to the Board members. Mr. Zintzmeyer from world renowned brand experts Interbrand Zintzmeyer & Lux,
    introduced a new concept for a unified global brand identity for FIBA. The Board has accepted the proposed new direction which would include a unified appearance for
    FIBA and the five regional Zones of FIBA. This unified appearance would also include the FIBA World events and the Continental championships which qualify for the World Championships and Olympics. Interbrand has been authorized to further develop the final corporate identity of FIBA which will be launched in 2003.

    For further information please contact Mr. Florian Wanninger or Ms. Lora Foster, FIBA:

    Tel.: (41+22) 545 00 00 – Fax: 545 00 99 – E-Mail: communications@fiba.com – Internet: www.fiba.com