El Khatib and Papamakarios thrilled to join FIBA Players' Commission

MIES, Switzerland - Lebanon legend Fadi El Khatib and former Greece international Manolis Papamakarios have been appointed as the newest members of its Players' Commission for the remainder of the 2014-2019 term of office.

El Khatib, who retired from the national team following the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 but is still playing for Lebanese side Champville, looks forward to doing his part in serving the best interest of players and the sport worldwide.

"It's a pleasure to be working with FIBA, to be a part of this commission to help players and develop the sport around the world," he said. "I've been on the basketball scene for the past 20 plus years and this appointment is a huge step."

Widely considered one of the best players from Asia, El Khatib led Lebanon to three second-place finishes at the FIBA Asia Championship (2001, 2005 and 2007) and played in three FIBA Basketball World Cups (2002, 2006 and 2010).

"I know there are huge names and it's going to be a pleasure working with them all. I'm looking forward to it. It's not about the names though, it's about the knowledge players have and that they can bring to the table. I'm sure I'm going to add a lot of things to this commission," he said.

He is no stranger to passing on advice and knowledge based on his experiences.

"As a public figure and a person with a certain reputation, a lot of what the Players' Commission sets out to do - especially in terms of providing athletes the resources and tools to maximize their time on and off the court - I do in schools and at conferences," he explained. "It's a very important aspect of the guidance that I provide to youngsters in Lebanon and in Asia.

"Now I have to do whatever I can to help players. There are many issues for them. I have many opinions about developing the young generation and proposing new measures for them."

"I'VE BEEN ON THE BASKETBALL SCENE FOR THE PAST 20 PLUS YEARS AND THIS APPOINTMENT IS A HUGE STEP" El KhatibEl Khatib

El Khatib's appointment to the Players' Commission helps playes from Asia, a region where the sport is ever more professional, have their own voice within FIBA.

Like El Khatib, Papamakarios is still very much making his presence felt on the basketball courts, playing for Greek side Gymnastikos S. Larissas.

The 6ft 3in (1.92m) guard represented Greece in youth teams (U18, U19 and U20 levels) and went on to feature for the senior side. Over the course of his professional career, the former captain of Olympiacos has gathered ample experience in European club competitions as well as in the Greek and Spanish leagues.

His appointment to the Players' Commission is a logical move for the 37-year-old, who has served as both President and Vice-President of the Players' Association in Greece.

He brings needed European experience to the commission since member Thomas Van den Spiegel is on special leave of absence as President of ULEB.

"It's a great honor to be in the FIBA Players' Commission, especially when I look at all the names of the members already on it. I will do my best to improve the conditions of basketball and basketball players with all of my efforts and all my strength," he said.

As a result of the roles he has served with the Greek Players' Association, Papamakarios is no stranger to the work the FIBA Players' Commission has done since its creation in 2015.

"I have known about the FIBA Players' Commission since its creation. It has done a very good job and its members are really great," he said.

"I have served as the President of the Players' Association in Greece twice and as its Vice-President once for two years. I'm now back as the President of the Players' Association. This is very good because I can field the questions and thoughts of the players and transfer all of this to the commission."

"IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE IN THE FIBA PLAYERS' COMMISSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN I LOOK AT ALL THE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS ALREADY ON IT" PapamakariosPapamakarios

In El Khatib and Papamakarios, the FIBA Players' Commission finds itself with two active players among its membership. The value of this is not lost on the Greek.

"I believe it's good to have active players [on the commission] who can transfer all the thoughts and questions the players have so that the commission can take care of them and find the best solution," he offered.

"Personally, I feel I have to pass on all of my thoughts and questions through to the commission. I talk a lot to all types of players and through me we can move all of this to the commission. Then, after discussions and conversations with the commission, hopefully we can find the best way to handle every problem that basketball players can face.

"We have to set targets that we can reach and move step by step to find the best solutions for everything."

El Khatib and Papamakarios will see their roles on the FIBA Players' Commission take effect on January 1, 2018.

The FIBA Players' Commission currently consists of:

Chairman
Vlade Divac (Serbia)

Members
Jim Alapag (Philippines)
Adriana Aparecida Dos Santos (Brazil)
Elisabeth Egnell (Sweden)
Ilona Korstin (Russia)
Hanno Mottola (Finland)
Boniface Ndong (Senegal)
Radoslav Nesterovic (Slovenia)
Fabricio Oberto (Argentina)
Olumide Oyedeji (Nigeria)
Jennifer Screen (Australia)
Katie Smith (USA)
Amaya Valdemoro (Spain)
Tomas Van Den Spiegel (Belgium) - on special leave of absence after his election as ULEB President

The FIBA Players' Commission has the following duties:

To study issues relating to players, men and women, of all age groups; To propose to the Central Board any measures deemed necessary to improve the conditions of players and protect their ability to grow as players and as role models for others; To make recommendations on practices or activities likely to be affecting the interests of players; and To provide feedback on and advise on possible improvements to the various competitions of FIBA. [/unordered]

FIBA