FIBA Europe is the governing body for basketball in Europe, one of 5 Zones of FIBA (along with Africa, Americas, Oceania and Asia). As the governing body, FIBA Europe is responsible for controlling and developing the sport of basketball in Europe. Among many tasks, this includes:

• promoting, supervising and directing international competition at the club and national team levels
• governing and appointing European international referees

Structure
FIBA Europe is an international federation whose membership consists of the national basketball federations of Europe, of which there are currently 51 members. The highest decision making body is the Board of FIBA Europe which consists of 25 persons elected by the national federations. The Board of FIBA Europe meets twice a year and is the executive body which represents all 51 federations that make up the membership of FIBA Europe. All 51 federations meet once a year at the General Assembly of FIBA Europe.

Decision making
Ideas and changes in policy may be suggested at any time by members of the FIBA Europe family and discussed and decided on by the Board of FIBA Europe. However, several Permanent Commissions exist whose duty it is to be active in certain key areas of the basketball world. As such are the:

• Competitions Commission
• Technical Commission
• Youth Commission
• Women's Commission
• Legal Commission
• Finance Commission
• Appeals Commission
• Small Countries Commission
• Special Advisers

The Commissions are given the task of studying the implementation of new ideas, which are put forward to the Board of FIBA Europe to decide on.

The Secretariat of FIBA Europe
The Secretariat of FIBA Europe is situated in Munich, Germany and consists of 27 staff members. The role of the secretariat is to administrate, promote and market the competitions run by FIBA Europe and to enact and implement the wishes of the national basketball federations via the Board of FIBA Europe.

Competitions
FIBA Europe's mandate is to promote basketball throughout Europe and the supervision of competitions is a vital component of this task. These competitions range from the flagship national team tournaments, such as EuroBasket for Men and Women to mini basketball. Here is an overview of the competitions administered by FIBA Europe.

Olafur Rafnsson, FIBA Europe President

Dear Basketball Friends,

It is often said that basketball is a very fair sport, in that it is nearly impossible to play worse than your opponent and still win. The nature of the game is such that both teams are handed equally with offensive opportunities and defensive responsibilities.

It is up to each team to make the best of them.

Fittingly, the FIBA Europe mission is very similar to the character of the sport. It involves the responsibility to serve and represent its members, the 51 national basketball federations of Europe, with the development, promotion and supervising of international competition on both club and national team level.

In essence, it is a bond of trust that extends all the way to basketball fans across Europe.

At the same time, the federation has the exciting opportunity to envision the future of the sport and assume the initiative towards materialising that vision.

It is a demanding challenge that both motivates and honours me.
I can think of nothing else that would better stimulate the creativity of a true basketball fan.

Welcome to European basketball's home court.

Best Regards,
Olafur Rafnsson
FIBA Europe President