PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 24 February 2016
As of February 2016, FIBA Europe has joined numerous other European sports governing bodies by becoming a partner of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) EU Office in Brussels. The EOC EU Office is the representative body of the EOC to European institutions, as well as representing the interests of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at national, European and international level. By becoming a member, FIBA Europe is showing its enthusiasm to help contribute towards a European Sports policy.
FIBA Europe is the sixth European Federation to partner with the EOC EU Office, following European Athletics, European Aquatics, the European Handball Federation, the European Volleyball Confederation and Rugby Europe. The EOC EU Office has also partnered with two International Federations: FIFA and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). A full list of the EOC EU Office’s partners can be found here.
“I am extremely pleased to welcome the prestigious organisation of FIBA Europe as our latest partner. When we established the EOC EU Office, it was organisations such as FIBA Europe that we wanted to target in order to build a strong network of Olympic Movement sports’ organisations to partner with the EU’s institutions,” stated EOC President Patrick Hickey.
He added: “The European Union brings a number of challenges as well as opportunities for the field of sport. The EOC EU Office is our answer to facing these challenges and to taking full advantage of these opportunities. With basketball being one of the major team sports in Europe, I am sure that this partnership will be of mutual benefit to FIBA Europe and to the EOC in many EU policy areas, but also beyond the EU institutions.”
"At FIBA Europe, we are always looking to build partnerships with institutions that share our commitment to sport and the positive impact it has on young people and our societies,” explained FIBA Europe President Turgay Demirel, continuing, “The EOC EU Office is one such institution. Basketball is one of Europe's leading sports, and this relationship will allow us to work more effectively towards our goal of strengthening the game in each of our member countries and beyond."
"Our relationship with the EOC goes back a number of years,” commented FIBA Executive Director Europe Kamil Novak. “Basketball has been competed for in every edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival, dating back to the inaugural games in 1991."
“FIBA Europe’s commitment to the European Olympic family grew last summer in Baku when our exciting new format, 3x3, proved to be one of the biggest hits with fans at the inaugural European Games. Now, becoming a partner of the EOC EU Office is the next logical step in our mutually beneficial relationship.”
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