REYKJAYVIK (FIBA EuroBasket Trophy Tour) – The FIBA EuroBasket Trophy Tour received a Presidential welcome when it traveled to the Icelandic capital on Friday.

The second stop of the 24-country Trophy Tour saw the Nikolai Semashko Trophy visit the world’s northernmost capital city, Reykjavik, where Iceland President Gudni Thorlacius Johannesson welcomed the trophy to the Presidential residence. President Johannesson’s unbridled enthusiasm for sport was immediately evident.

"I will do my very best to make sure that I will be able to go to Finland (for the FIBA EuroBasket Group Phase) and I know for a fact that there are thousands of Icelanders eager to watch the team there," stated President Johannesson.

"We had a very good experience in Berlin [at FIBA EuroBasket 2015]. The team made us proud. The results did not dampen the enthusiasm for our team. We are usually the smallest team in finals like this, whether it is basketball or other sports.

"So, it is always a natural struggle for us but when we see that everyone on the team is doing their best, then this makes us proud."

Iceland Basketball Federation President Hannes Jonsson was quick to acknowledge the support of his nation’s President.

"For us it is very good that we have a President like Mr. Johannesson, who is a real sports fan. For FIBA EuroBasket and for FIBA in general, it is also very good to have a President like this in our country, who wants to take his time to be with us and the trophy."

Basketball fans were given the opportunity to get up close and personal with the trophy on both Friday and Saturday when it was on display in the deciding third games of both the national domestic league’s Semi-Finals.

Between the games, the trophy was also photographed with a number of Reykjavik iconic locations, including a Viking ship, the Icelandic Opera hall and the national whale museum. Accompanying the trip was national team player Logi Gunnarson, who is now preparing for his second consecutive FIBA EuroBasket.

"When I started with the national team 17 years ago, it was never an option to have this [chance to play in FIBA EuroBasket]. It was not even in the discussion and now we are doing this for a second time, it’s an absolute dream come true."

The FIBA EuroBasket Trophy Tour continues in Podgorica, Montenegro on April 20.

FIBA