ASUNCION (Americas) - The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in the Americas announced the results of their visit to Paraguay, highlighting the government's commitment to rebuild the National Sports Secretariat Arena in time for FIBA’s New Competition System tip-off in November 2017.

The results were revealed in a press conference attended by FIBA Americas President Mr. Usie Richards, FIBA ​​Americas Regional Director Mr. Alberto Garcia and the Secretary General of the Paraguayan Basketball Confederation Mr. Edward Arca.

"We are very pleased with the reception we have had from the different sectors in the country. The government, the basketball community, the corporations and the media have expressed interest and an attitude of collaboration with the project. The New Competition System has been created with the premise of giving our national federations the tools to strengthen its structure in order to enable the growth of basketball in each participating country. Paraguay and its federation, along with the future support of these sectors are committed to maximizing these benefits.", said Richards.

FIBA Americas Regional Director Mr. Alberto Garcia talked in detail about the commitments received at the various meetings.

"On Monday we were with the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and its President Mr. Camilo Lopez Moreira who reiterated their support to the Paraguayan Confederation and the national team stating that one of his priorities is to grow team sports at a national level. That same day in the afternoon we held meetings with corporations and possible future partners for the federation in this venture, who showed great interest in taking part in the unique and new product that having the national team playing at home represents.", Garcia said.

"However, the big news and the most important result of this visit was received on Tuesday afternoon when we met the Minister of Sport in Paraguay Mr. Victor Pecci, who immediately informed us that there is already an advanced project of rebuilding the National Sports Secretariat Arena in Asuncion with the goal of it being completed by November 2017, tip-off date for the New Competition System. The project is being overseen by the Genera Sports Director in Paraguay Mr. Bruno Zanotti, who is also a member of the basketball national team and that has assured us that it will be done under FIBA guidelines. This commitment guarantees that Paraguay will automatically meet all requirements to compete in Division A of this new system of competition once qualified through the South American Championship in the summer.”, added the Director FIBA executive in the Americas.

Paraguay is the first country in a program of visits to 23 countries of the continent will be done in three phases. The first phase will take place between the months of April to June, where he also will visit the Bahamas, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Panama and the Dominican Republic.


The new FIBA Calendar and Competition System from 2017 onwards opens a new era for basketball all over the world - one which features 1,680 top players during 1,200 national teams games and millions of fans all around the globe.

It serves as a qualifier to the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup set to be played in China and also to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.


FIBA