Kristers Zoriks, Klāvs Čavars, Rihards Lomažs Photo: FIBA
The Ministry of Education and Science, on behalf of the Latvian government, has sent an official letter of guarantee to the International Division of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA Europe) confirming the government’s support for the Latvian Basketball Association’s 2025 European Championship Group Tournament and Finals (FIBA EuroBasket2025).
The letter confirms that in case the Board of FIBA Europe grants Latvia the right to organize EuroBasket2025, the government will provide the necessary legal, practical and financial support for the success of the competition. In case of a positive decision of FIBA Europe, the MES will prepare a request from the state budget to provide funding for the organization of EuroBasket2025 in the amount of EUR 4.515 million (group tournament) or EUR 10 million (group tournament and final tournament).
Last week, the organization of EuroBasket2025 was also supported by the Riga City Council, which envisages supporting the competition in the amount of one million or 1.5 million EUR, respectively.
“The European Basketball Championship in Riga will be a unique opportunity for our brightest basketball talents to compete with foreign stars in front of their fans. It will be a basketball festival for Rigans, guests of the capital and the whole of Latvia. Also a financially profitable project, promoting economic life in Riga, providing additional revenue to the state budget and emotional relief after the time constraints of the pandemic, which is unlikely to be relevant in 2025. Thank you to the government and the Riga City Council, which, taking into account the great experience of the Basketball Union in organizing the highest level international basketball competitions, supported our initiative. Our next task is to convince the management of FIBA about the advantages of Riga’s candidacy over reputable competitors, ”Raimonds Vējonis, President of LBS, was quoted on the website of the Latvian Basketball Union (LBS).
Along with Latvia, the Russian, Ukrainian and Hungarian Basketball Federations have also applied for the “big set” – the group tournament and the final stage. Cyprus and Finnish basketball federations have also applied for the right to hold only group tournaments. Out of the six applicants, FIBA Europe will select one to be entrusted with the group tournament and the final stage, as well as three more to organize the group tournaments. The decision on the countries hosting EuroBasket2025 will be taken by the Board of FIBA Europe in spring 2022.
Teams from 24 countries take part in the EuroBasket tournaments, which are divided into four groups in the first stage. The top four will qualify for the final tournament, which will include the quarter-finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. Over the last 15 years, the Latvian Basketball Union has successfully organized 12 world and European championships (including FIBA EuroBasket 2015, as well as the European Women’s Championships in 2009 and 2019).
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