FIBA’s vision, as explained to the media during Eurobasket 2015 in Lille was to promote the international game on a broader scale: more games, more chances for the crowd to see their nation play and with the games being in season, better attendances.
The first week of Eurobasket Women qualifying games proved that and while the questions asked about increased player fatigue and the lack of stars appearing for their respective national sides remains unanswered – FIBA’s new international calendar and vision – has got off to a good start.
“I am very grateful to everyone for coming in such large numbers,” smiled Serbia coach Marina Maljkovic, whose Rio Olympic-bound team was greeted by 6,500 fans in Belgrade’s Pionir Hall for their qualifier against Germany.
“This is an historic event for women’s basketball, in terms of the number of spectators. I bet the girls, did not dare to think that they would be playing in front of a near-full Pionir Hall.”
The same can be said for Romania, who co-hosted the Eurobasket Women, just gone. The exposure of the national side during the summer and the opportunity to see them in action in Cluj was too exciting for the locals to pass up and 5,000 fans saw their country edge Bosnia & Herzegovina 67-65.
Most games saw attendances in the thousands; Greece, predominately a male basketball country were welcomed by 3,000 fans to watch them beat Switzerland, 2012 olympic silver-medallists France beat Estonia in-front of 3,800 supporters and the Södertälje Arena was sold out nearly two months in advance but unfortunately Spain spoiled Sweden’s party with a 75-52 win.
The second round of week one action continues on in midweek before reconvening in February for two more games.
So far, so good for FIBA’s new international calendar but it’s only the beginning of a new chapter in international basketball.
