The summary of his statement:
“The competition pyramid is unclear for everyone. The most important things are the athletes and the fans. My wish is to see a stable competition pyramid, interconnected with national and international championships, on all continents. We are working to make this a reality (…) As an international organization, we must act at different levels. We have major leagues and minor leagues. Basketball is not the number one sport in many countries, but it is the second most popular. Our goal is to become the world’s most important sport.”
“25 or 30 years ago, the Federation controlled everything. Today, every decision must pass through many filters. This makes our work very difficult. We can no longer just say: ‘Do this because I am the Federation.’ It is our responsibility to take into account all stakeholders in the ecosystem.”
“Basketball is constantly evolving. The game comes first, and we must respect it. The rules must evolve, but they must remain very clear. Players’ physical condition is improving year by year, which makes the game more attractive. Many fans want to see the whole match, but younger generations are only interested in highlights.”
“Furthermore, we are focusing on 3×3 basketball; it is the basketball of today. It meets fan expectations. It is a celebration of basketball, and that is what we promote. At the Paris Games, tickets sold out every day.”
