Record-breaking run continues for French Basketball Federation
PARIS – The significant investment made in hosting flagship FIBA events is proving particularly fruitful for the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) after they beat their own record for the number of licensed players for a spectacular seventh year in a row.
The country has hosted a number of high profile events in recent years, including FIBA EuroBasket Women 2013 and also the Final stages of FIBA EuroBasket 2015 which witnessed another record broken as 27,372 spectators flooded into the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille for the Final of the competition.
The French city of Nantes will also play host to the 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will see five teams snap up the last tickets to Rio.
The popularity of the sport continues on an exciting upward trajectory thanks to the the success of these high profile events and also the success of the national teams.
These two elements have formed the central pillars behind the Federation witnessing last year’s high tide mark of 600,169 licensees being surpassed.
La #FFBB dépasse déjà son record de licenciés #Record #Basket https://t.co/wvwIMwL6dP pic.twitter.com/yRdZep54EL
— FFBB (@ffbasketball) February 18, 2016
As at 18 February and well before the current club season ends, the number had risen to 601,376 – with basketball consolidating its place as the second most played team sport in France.
The record breaking figure has left French Basketball Federation President, Jean-Pierre Siutat absolutely thrilled and he was quick to also praise those responsible at all levels for the continued growth of the sport.
He said:
"With the popularity and media success of EuroBasket 2015, the strong performance of our national teams and the work done by our leagues, our committees and our clubs, the FFBB is pleased and proud to see again the curve of its licensees grow. After the 500,000 in 2013-2014 and 600,000 last season, the Federation is again showcasing all of the hype around basketball in France. This result encourages us to work even harder to meet the challenge of territorial reform and gives us the opportunity to thank and congratulate all the volunteers who work each day to ensure the success of our sport."
The new record has also ignited a poster campaign #BASKET as the Federation refuses to rest on its laurels and continues to encourage clubs to promote the sport even more vigorously right across the country.
FIBA
