The misfortune of one person makes the happiness of others. Removed from the hands of Ukraine by the FIBA Europe office, meeting last week in Munich, the men's EuroBasket 2015 could land in those of France. The French Basketball Federation (FFBB) and its president, Jean-Pierre Siutat, want this and make no secret of it. The event tempts them, in part or even, who knows, in its entirety.
In its current format, EuroBasket 2015 will bring together 24 teams. It will begin with a group stage, built around four groups of six teams, before switching to a second round with knockout matches. “We are going to apply for a first round, but reserving the possibility of going further and aiming for a more ambitious project: the entire competition,” says Jean-Pierre Siutat, proud to recall that France had made common cause with Germany in 2010 to win the organization of this European championship, but FIBA Europe preferred the Ukrainian file.
A meeting is planned for Wednesday, June 18 with Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the Minister of Sports. The president of the FFBB must defend his idea, detail its scope and above all reveal the costs. “The entire Euro would obviously be more expensive,” he explains, “but the prospect of seeing the generation of Tony Parker and Boris Diaw play a final phase in France does not lack appeal. » The two men have just won the NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs. An argument that could weigh in the balance when the State has to make a decision. EuroBasket 2015, the last of the Olympiad, will in fact serve as a qualifying tournament for the Rio Games, where the immense TP should bid farewell to the French team.
First round or entire tournament, the event cannot be played in Bercy. The POPB, currently closed for renovation, will not yet be operational on the dates planned for the European Championship (September 5-20). But the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq, near Lille, would constitute an almost ideal replacement solution. Recently chosen to organize matches for the 2017 World Handball Championship, it can accommodate 25.000 spectators in the so-called Arena version, that is to say transformed into a retractable room.
According to FIBA Europe, the list of candidate countries is already very long. A good fifteen, for all or part of the competition. Among them, the names of Germany, Slovenia, Lithuania and Spain were mentioned. National federations have until July 31, 2014 to submit a complete application file. A response is expected in the best case a month later, probably not after the end of September. FIBA Europe could also, after choosing one or more host countries, award Ukraine the organization of EuroBasket 2017.
