FIBA Congress commences in Manama
Manama, May 15 (BNA): The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) inaugurated its biannual Congress today, Wednesday, in the Bahraini capital, Manama. The event, running until Sunday, 18 May, brings together over 500 prominent figures, including top basketball officials and representatives from national federations across 180 countries worldwide.
The global event commenced today with FIBA’s FIBA Central Board meeting, a closed-door session that took place over Wednesday and Thursday.
The coming days will feature specialised sessions for technical and administrative committees, coordination meetings among continental federations, and the main general assembly at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre in Sakhir. Additionally, the programme includes various side events, such as the FIBA Hall of Fame 2025 Ceremony at the Bahrain National Theatre.
On this occasion, Fatima bint Jaafar Al-Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, emphasised that hosting this global event aligns with Bahrain’s Tourism Strategy 2022–2026, which highlights sports tourism as a key pillar. She noted that such events serve as effective platforms to showcase Bahrain’s diverse tourism, cultural, and economic offerings.
For his part, Faris Al-Kooheji, Secretary-General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, stated that hosting the Congress strengthens Bahrain’s position on the global sports map and opens new avenues for collaboration with FIBA. He highlighted Bahrain’s state-of-the-art facilities, robust infrastructure, and efficient logistical services as ideal for hosting such high-profile meetings.
He added that the Bahrain Basketball Association has spent months preparing a comprehensive organisational plan to meet FIBA’s hosting requirements, underscoring Bahrain’s professional standards in organising major sporting events.
This Congress is one of FIBA’s most significant gatherings, uniting elite basketball leaders under one roof to discuss the sport’s future, review key development initiatives, and explore collaboration frameworks among continental and national federations.
In this context, Sebastian Miazza, FIBA’s Projects Director, noted the record participation of member federations and expressed FIBA’s appreciation for Bahrain as the first Middle Eastern country to host the event. He stated that FIBA considers Bahrain a priority for future events, given its professional standards and strong government support for sports.
The Congress’s side meetings hold particular importance, offering participants opportunities to exchange expertise, discuss best practices in basketball management and development, and foster constructive dialogue reflecting the spirit of international cooperation to advance the sport.
