In a historical meeting for Italian basketball, the country’s Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, received today the FIBA President, Bob Elphinston, and the FIBA Secretary General and IOC member, Patrick Baumann, in his office in Palazzo Chigi and indicated his Government’s full and strong support for Italy’s candidature for the 2014 FIBA World Championship.
Earlier this morning, the Secretary of State for Sport, On. Rocco Crimi, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Gianni Letta, had already anticipated the Italian Government’s position. The FIBA delegation, which was accompanied during the whole day by the Italian Basketball Federation Commissioner and famous former player, Mr. Dino Meneghin, and by the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Mr. Gianni Petrucci, also met with the Mayor of Rome, Mr. Gianni Alemanno, to discuss the hosting of the final phase in the capital city.
Italy, along with China, Denmark, France and Spain, is one of the five candidates interested in organizing the 2014 edition of FIBA’s premier championship.
After traveling last week to Beijing and this one to Paris, Madrid and Rome, FIBA ends this week’s tour of the bidding countries for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Men. Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, will be visited at a later date.
On 5th December 2008, the above-mentioned five national federations/countries are due to confirm their bid by formally presenting their candidature files to FIBA in a public presentation ceremony to be held in Geneva, Switzerland.
After the handing over of the candidature files on 5th December, FIBA will appoint an Evaluation Commission to examine all files and to formally visit the countries and review the commitments made.
The complete bidding process will end in May 2009, when the FIBA Central Board will decide the host of the 2014 World Championship for Men.
(Source: FIBA)
