Eight men’s and five women’s teams can already start booking their tickets for EuroBasket 2009, in Poland and Latvia respectively.

This is the result of a decision taken by the Board of FIBA Europe in Prague, Czech Republic, which reviewed EuroBasket 2007 and discussed the format of qualification for the next editions of Europe’s most prestigious national basketball team competitions, EuroBasket 2009.

It means that in men Russia, Spain and Lithuania qualify by virtue of their participation in next summer’s Olympic Games.

Greece, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, the four European teams that have earned a place in the World Olympic Qualifying tournament, are also guaranteed a spot in the EuroBasket 2009 finals. Host nation Poland is the eighth team who automatically qualify for the finals.

		Belarus are one of the teams that have already secured a place in the EuroBasket Women 2009 finals

17 other Division A teams – Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Hungary, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine – will have to participate in the Qualifying Round next summer.

These will be divided in three groups of four teams and one group with five teams. The winners of each group plus the three best placed runners-up will go to EuroBasket 2009. The last ticket will be up for grabs through an Additional Qualifying Round in the summer of 2009.

The Division B Qualifying Round games are scheduled for September 2008 and September 2009. Division C will take place in Scotland, 17-22 June 2008.

In women, European Champions Russia along with Spain, Belarus, Latvia and the Czech Republic all secure a place in the EuroBasket 2009 finals.

The remaining 19 Division A teams – Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Turkey and Ukraine – will compete in three groups of five teams and one group of four teams. The top two of each group and the best two of the third-placed teams will earn a spot in EuroBasket 2009. Like in men, the last ticket will have to be won at an Additional Qualifying Round in the summer of 2009.

The women’s Division B Qualifying Round games will take place in September 2008 and January 2009. Division C is scheduled for Luxembourg, 7-12 July 2008.

“The teams that participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament face a potentially exhausting summer irrespective of whether they make it to the Olympics or not. It is only fair that these teams are given a direct entry into next EuroBasket,” explained FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin.

The exact dates and details of the EuroBasket 2009 Qualifying Round games for both men and women will be announced at a later date.

The draw will take place in Venice, Italy on 16 February, 2008.