FISU at 19th FIBA World Congress

 FISU President George E. Killian

BRUSSELS – FISU Delegates attended the 19^th FIBA World Congress which concurs with the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey. At this congress outgoing FIBA President Bob Elphinston (AUS) handed over the presidency to Yvan Mainini (FRA), who was elected as the 11^th FIBA President by the Congress on September 6^th.

FISU President George E. Killian and FISU Secretary-General/CEO Eric Saintrond attended the Congress in Istanbul. FISU, present at the event with an information booth, has strong ties with Basketball’s governing body. Indeed, both organizations have signed an agreement to promote University Basketball. In order to assure quality refereeing during the Universiade Basketball Tournament, FIBA nominates the referees and bears the costs. FISU has lowered the age of basketball participation from 28 to 25 in order to assure the best eligible players will participate at the Universiade. And last but not least, FISU President George E. Killian chaired FIBA from 1990 to 1998 as its president. He will be inducted in the FIBA Hall of Fame on September 12^th, in the ‘Contributors’ category for his life-long contribution to the game of basketball.

Inauguration of the new office for the TBBFThe FIBA Congress took place during the last round of the FIBA World Championship which is played in Istanbul, Ankara, Kayseri and Izmir. In the latter, the games were played in the Halkapinar Arena where the Universiade tournament was played, a tangible proof of the Izmir Universiade Legacy.

While present at the FIBA Congress, the FISU President and Secretary-General/CEO also attended the official inauguration of the new office of the Turkish Basketball Federation.

C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer