Kosovo Basketball Federation has become the newest member of the International Basketball Federation – FIBA.
The decision was taken at the FIBA Executive Committee meeting, held yesterday and today in Geneva. KBF has applied for FIBA membership on February 5th and after the review of our application, we received a positive answer from Geneva today, confirming KBF as the 215th FIBA member.
KBF wishes to express its appreciation to the members of FIBA Executive Committee, Secretary General of FIBA, Mr. Patrick Baumann, President of FIBA Europe, Mr. Turgay Demirel, as well as the officials of the global basketball organization for their contribution regarding this decision.
Herewith, KBF undertakes and commits itself to be an exemplary federation, to ensure full compliance with FIBA Rules and Regulations, and to put all of its potentials at FIBA’s disposal, with the purpose of contributing to further strengthening of FIBA and the global basketball family.
We are well aware that the affiliation with FIBA represents the most significant event in the seven decade-long history of basketball in Kosovo. This act marks the crowning of the efforts which lasted for decades, but also the beginning of a new era, the era in which Kosovo basketball strengthens and develops further with the help of the global basketball community.
Today, it gives us great pleasure to confirm that beyond the solemn act of affiliation to FIBA, we were also granted support through special programs for our coaches and referees and we are expecting that FIBA’s assistance will extend to cover other segments, to assist us in our functions as the newest member of the organization, by providing us concrete assistance in developing youth categories.
This year, we expect another dream to come true. Again, owing to invaluable support by FIBA and FIBA Europe, we anticipate that at least one Kosovo National Team will participate in European Championships, and the fact that we made it possible for the boys and girls of Kosovo to represent their country in the sport they love makes us very proud.
Kosovo Basketball Federation would also like to thank all players, coaches, referees, sports officials and management teams of KBF since its establishment, and to proudly conclude that the long awaited dream has finally come true and Kosovo now has a basketball federation that is equal to 214 other basketball federations around the world.
At the same time, we would like to call upon all current members of KBF and all individuals involved in the sport that we love to help us prove our real human, sports and national values in the international arena.
From our members in particular, we ask a new approach and more commitment by fulfilling their obligations and adhering to criteria, with the sole purpose of enhancing our organizational capacities and improving our results on the basketball court.
Today, we have a great reason to celebrate this great event and we would like to share our joy with all our friends and all those who consider themselves part of our common success.
After the celebration, we promise a greater commitment towards the realization of many other goals now that we are in FIBA, now that we are basketball too.
Congratulations to all.
We are basketball!
Kosovo Basketball Federation