The FIBA 2025 Mid-Term Congress was held at the prestigious Exhibition World Bahrain, bringing together a record 167 national federations. During the morning plenary session, new services for national federations were presented, while the afternoon was dedicated to the introduction of key initiatives for the development of basketball.
The event was attended by His Highness Sheikh Issa bin Ali Al-Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee and member of the FIBA Foundation Board, as well as a video welcome message from International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and a speech by FIBA President Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani.
Strategic update and basketball growth
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis presented an update on FIBA’s strategy for the current cycle, highlighting the growth and popularity of basketball worldwide. Zagklis highlighted the sport’s success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the remarkable growth of women’s basketball.
In his post-Congress remarks, Zagklis said, “We sincerely thank Bahrain for its exceptional organization of this FIBA Mid-Term Congress and the record number of national federations that joined us. It is gratifying to reflect on the success of our sport and, at the same time, to look forward to the future with enthusiasm to continue this global trend.”
Trophies and new services for federations
For the first time, 14 trophies from FIBA competitions were on display, highlighting the global nature of basketball and the importance of this year’s continental tournaments and U19 World Cups. In addition, the Congress received reports from FIBA Treasurer Ingo Weiss and from organizations officially recognized by FIBA, such as the FIBA Foundation and the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).
During the afternoon session, delegates learned about new services available to national federations, including the official launch of the FIBA Academy, FIBA’s digital transformation, the expansion of eFIBA and the introduction of artificial intelligence-driven solutions for digital and media asset management.
Thematic sessions and strategic priorities.
The Congress also approved several amendments to FIBA’s General Statutes and announced a series of thematic sessions to be held in the coming days. These sessions will address key topics such as FIBA’s strategic priority in women’s basketball, the FIBA Plus program, youth player development and the NCAA, the 3×3 format and Olympic Solidarity.
