FIBA President Muratore praises Spanish Federation for first-ever joint hosting of Men's and Women's U17 World Championships

ZARAGOZA (2016 FIBA U17 World Championships for Men and Women) - FIBA President Horacio Muratore has praised the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) for its leading role in helping make the first-ever joint hosting of the FIBA U17 World Championships for Men and Women a huge success.

The 2016 editions in the youngest age category of FIBA's world competitions are taking place jointly - as part of a youth basketball festival - in the Spanish city of Zaragoza.  The action tipped off on Wednesday 22 June and is set to culminate on Sunday 3 July.

Never before had the two tournaments been staged at the same time in one city.

"I am excited firstly because we have accomplished our goal to get the tournament together here," he said on Sunday after presiding over a Players Seminar for the participants in the women's competition.

"I think the Spanish Basketball Federation also has to be happy for the same reasons because they proposed a joint tournament for both young men and young women. I think it has been a success and the organisation has been great so I would like to congratulate the Spanish Basketball Federation as well as the event staff from FIBA who are doing a great job.

"For FIBA, these U17 World Championships are of vital importance. It's an opportunity for the best talents and promising players in the world to come together in the same venue and compete for the first time. The likelihood is that in several years' time, some of these youngsters will be seen in the NBA, in the best leagues and at the Olympic Games. But they will always remember the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championships, where they first met."

Muratore pointed out that, given Spain's successful track record in hosting leading FIBA competitions, it's no surprise they have delivered once again. 

"Spain hosted the best FIBA Basketball World Cup to date [in 2014]. That is why we now have the FIBA U17 World Championships for Men and Women happening together for the first time. And that is why we will also have the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. At FIBA, we know that holding our competitions in Spain brings with it success," he explained.

"Whenever I speak of Spain, it's always good things. I've know the country and the federation since my time as President of the Argentinian Basketball Confederation where I was in charge for 16 years. I've had a close rapport with the Spanish Basketball Federation. In the 1990s, I got to know the federation as one of the more stable but at the same time stagnant ones. And now, it has become one of the best two or three federations in the world. That is down to the work and to putting each person in the right place in order to grow."

FIBA