MONTEVIDEO (Americas) - The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in the Americas concluded its visit to Uruguay where the New Competition System set to tip-off ​​in November 2017 was introduced to all sectors of the sports community in the country.

During the visit, the delegation of the International Federation headed by its Regional Director in the Americas, Mr. Alberto Garcia, met with the National Sports Director, Mr. Fernando Caceres, the Minister of Tourism, Ms. Liliam Kechichian, the Head of programming for DIRECTV Uruguay, Mr. Emiliano Heinzen, authorities of the telecommunications giant Antel, the media, national federation members and the basketball community in general.

"We are very pleased with the commitment shown by the different sectors in the country. The government, private entities, the basketball community and the media have expressed interest and shown a positive attitude towards the New Competition System understanding its priority as an initiative of the International Federation to give the Uruguayan Basketball Federation the tools to strengthen its structure and thus help the growth of sport in the country.", said Garcia.

Prior to departure, the delegation paid a visit to the under construction site of the Antel Arena, which was announced should be ready and fully functional by February 2018. Alternatives that can accommodate the national team home games in the New Competition System were also analyzed.

"First, to have been informed that the Antel Arena will be ready in February 2018 is great news as it would represent an important stage and platform for basketball in the Americas continent for this new competition system. Likewise, it is important to not rule out Paysandú Stadium or the Maldonado Convention Center, which is to be inaugurated on July 24, as very good alternatives to house national team games. These possibilities automatically secure that Uruguay meets all the necessary requirements to compete in this new system that serve to qualify teams for the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics", added the Regional Director of FIBA ​​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 is set to be completed in June, where visits to Bahamas, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Dominican Republic and Venezuela are also scheduled.

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