The eyes of the Basketball world last weekend were mainly on the Golden State Warriors comeback against Oklahoma City to reach the NBA Finals but the global growth of the game outside the US was of greater interest much closer too home.
Over 100 delegates from 45 countries across Europe gathered at the Gresham Hotel in Dublin for the International Basketball Federation’s European General Assembly.
It was the first time that such a gathering of the sports’ power brokers had been hosted here and is recognition of the distance Basketball in Ireland has travelled in recent years.
Eight Irish international teams will compete internationally in 2016, only a few short years after the international programme was cut completely to save money.
Competing in the European Small Nations Cup is a step on the path to who knows where. Turkey’s women’s squad started from the same base and ended up competing at the London Olympics in 2012.
The Assembly heard a tale of growth all across the continent with over 700,000 fans attending matches in Eurobasket 2015, the national team championship. That ended with Spain beating Lithuania in Lille in front of an audience of over 27,000.
For many the sport is indelibly linked to the US and the multi million world of the NBA but Europe’s importance is growing in commercial as well as playing terms.
Commercial income across Europe rose to €13.5 million during the course of the year, with sponsorship and television money accounting for the bulk of this.
The Women’s game is flying high as well attracting television coverage for over half of the matches played at international level over the course pf the year and viewing figures that will encourage more.
Ireland’s 3×3 team made it to the Quarter Finals of the European Championships last summer and held top seeds Russia level to the half way point.
“The strength of basketball across Europe and the resulting parity is what makes EuroBasket and EuroBasket Women the world’s best continental championships,” said FIBA General Secretary Patrick Baumann.
“Every single game offers excitement and unpredictability. That is what drives record ticket sales, television ratings, and marketing revenues.
“And with the implementation of the new FIBA Competitions Calendar we have more opportunities than ever before to promote our national teams.”
“I am proud that FIBA Europe is doing more than ever before to help our federations participate in European youth championships every summer. Our financial support has helped 253 men’s teams and 212 women’s teams take to the court in the last two years. Last summer a record 51 FIBA Europe countries participated in these tournaments.”
“We continue to support grass roots initiatives. We continue to provide 50 percent of project costs up to EUR 25,000 for federation efforts to support grass roots.”
“Europe is also leading the international basketball community in 3×3. When we look at the international rankings, European teams are dominant.”
The Assembly was opened by President of the Olympic Council of Ireland Pat Hickey and addressed also by Basketball Ireland Secretary General Bernard O’Byrne who was a driving influence in bringing the event to Dublin and raising the profile of Ireland as a leading small nation in the sport on this global platform.
Basketball Ireland currently has commercial partnership deals in place with Subway, Hula Hoops, O’Driscoll O’Neill and Molten.
