Carol Callan elected new FIBA Americas President in Zone Assembly

MIAMI (FIBA Americas) - Carol Callan was elected as President of FIBA Americas for the 2019-2023 term by the General Assembly of the member federations in Miami, USA on Saturday. This makes Carol Callan the fourth elected member of the FIBA Central Board for 2019-2023 cycle after Burton Shipley, the re-elected President of FIBA Oceania, Turgay Demirel, the re-elected President of FIBA Europe and Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, the re-elected President of FIBA Asia.
 
After overseeing all facets of the historic 1995-96 USA Basketball Women's National Team that posted a perfect 52-0 record and assisting with the 1996 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team that reclaimed the gold medal with an 8-0 record, Callan assumed duties as the USA Basketball Women's National Team director in October 1996. She serves on the FIBA and FIBA Americas Women's Commissions, the WBCA Board of Directors and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors. 

Callan becomes the first woman ever to be elected President of FIBA Americas.

“This is humbling. I will like to thank my colleagues from the North American Sub-Zone for their continued support. I will like to say thanks to Usie for a job well done, and his encouragement and counseling. I look forward to working with you for the betterment and expansion of basketball in the Americas,” said the newly elected FIBA Americas President Carol Callan.

FIBA President Horacio Muratore, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, and FIBA Americas Executive Director Carlos Alves were all present at the Zone Assembly.

The Zone Assembly held at the East Hotel in Miami, Florida, featured the participation of representatives from 35 of the 43 member National Federations in the Americas with Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela and the Virgin Islands.  

For his part, the FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said: ''It’s great to have a person that has devoted her entire life to basketball and has seen all the levels of FIBA competitions. Because of her skill and experience we are confident that she is the right person to lead FIBA Americas.''

FIBA President Horacio Muratore said: ''The most important pillar since I was elected FIBA President in 2014 has been the development of our national federations and this Assembly is proof of the great work that has been done. Today we are stronger, more united and focused on our common objective of growing our sport to become the most popular sports community in the world. I have a special place in my heart for this Zone that I’ve been a part of now for four decades and to witness the spirit of this Assembly is to be proud of the road traveled. Basketball is in a better place. I wish much success to the newly elected authorities in their duties.''

FIBA Americas Executive Director Carlos Alves said: ''We are extremely happy with the results of the Assembly. The legacy of the great job done by our departing President Usie Richards will forever be remembered as an integral step forward for our region and we will be forever grateful for his leadership throughout this historic era. We are honored to welcome a new President in Carol Callan that comes with a tremendous amount of experience and is equipped to lead us in delivering growth and development for the future of our brand in Americas.''

Departing FIBA Americas President and newly-elected FIBA Americas Treasurer Usie Richards said: “It's been a wonder to see this organization grow from COPABA to FIBA Americas and now a Zone FIBA under the new governance that I was privileged to be a part of crafting. Our continued growth depends on the success of our National Federations and I thank each and everyone of you for your work and dedication to make our Zone stronger on its way to achieve the mission of uniting the community through the promotion of basketball. To Carol Callan, the new President, I wish success. I know that with the support of our Regional Office, she will successfully drive the development of our sport in the Americas."

The Zone Assembly also elected new board members, now configured as follows:
FIBA Americas President – Carol Callan (USA)
1st Vice-President – Marcelo Bedoya (PAR)
2nd Vice-President – Yamil Bukele (ESA)
3rd Vice-President – Michele O’Keefe (CAN)
FIBA Americas Executive Director – Carlos Alves
FIBA Americas Treasurer – Usie Richards (ISV)
Glen Grunwald (CAN)
Kim Bohuny (USA)
Jim Tooley (USA)
Glyne Clark (BAR)
Modesto Robledo (MEX)
Rafael Uribe (DOM)
Jorge Armando Garcia (COL)
Carlos Fontenells (BRA)
Jose Arevalo (ECU)

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