MEXICO CITY – In an attempt to turn its' vast potential into tangible results and improvement during future years, the Mexican Basketball Federation, backed by FIBA Americas and the Mexican Olympic Committee, has successfully delivered the inaugural ‘Vision 2020’ workshop to over 150 participants from across the nation.

Focused on raising standards in all aspects of the game in Mexico, from playing, coaching, refereeing, technology and general basketball administration, this potential watershed initiative was welcomed by a delighted FIBA Americas President Horacio Muratore.

He said, "We came here with the purpose of making the FIBA Americas staff available, since we have experts in every area essential to the development of our sport.

"We are confident that this is the big step that Mexico needed to organise and advance the cause of basketball in the country.

“With the enormous interest shown, it is a new day in the history of Mexican basketball."

The project was also fully endorsed by FIBA Americas Secretary General Alberto Garcia, who gave similarly glowing praise at the launch.

"This is a dream to see you all here, to see a country with courage to see basketball grow” stated Garcia.

"Mexico is a great country with great potential.

“We want to give to coaches, referees, administrators and IT staff the tools to move from being a country with potential, to being a powerful nation in basketball."

He also handed the FIBA Federations Manual and 2020 Strategic Plan to 70 administrators from all over Mexico, explaining the four modules of the manual, ‘Structuring, Building, Competing, Promoting’.

The administrators also received presentations of ‘3x3’ by Nestor Rodriguez, Director of Development at FIBA Americas, ‘Communications and Objectives’ by William Rosario, Director of Communications at FIBA Americas, and Event Planning by Javier Otero.

Meanwhile, essential FIBA Digital software training was also made available and a specific focus was placed on refereeing and coaching throughout the event.

FIBA Americas Referee Director, Mr. Geraldo Fontana, stressed the pedagogical responsibility of all referee instructors in his presentation ‘Teaching Methodology Applied to Referees Instructors and Table Officials,’ whilst Victor Ojeda, Director of the Academy of FIBA Americas, outlined what he believed to be real priorities for any coach.

"A true coach is more concerned about his objectives than about winning", Ojeda said.

"How do you know if your practice was effective? A coach that does not communicate to his players the purpose of each practice cannot measure the growth and development of his team."

The event was also attended by Jesus Mena, President of the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sport (Conade), Jimena Saldaña Aja, Secretary General of the Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA), Carlos Padilla Becerra, President of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) and its' Secretary General, Ricardo Contreras.

FIBA