February 08, 2012
Euroleague Basketball, Chinese Basketball Association reach partnership agreement

Euroleague Basketball
Chinese Basketball Association
Infront Sports & Media
Barcelona, December 11, 2006: In another example of the growing demand for basketball across the globe, Euroleague Basketball, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media have reached a partnership agreement to bring the best of European professional basketball to fans in Asia. The agreement calls for games, clinics and several other exchanges between the parties, to be highlighted by the first Euroleague Basketball / Team China Tournament, between a Euroleague Basketball team and the Chinese National Basketball Team, in October 2007.


Li Yuanwei, Vice-President of the CBA, welcomes the new development: "We are very happy to have reached this agreement with the Euroleague. The innovative partnership, arranged by our partner Infront, provides us with a base to strengthen the development of the Chinese teams, while gaining access to the proven resources and success of the Euroleague."

"We are excited to join with the CBA and Infront for what promises to be an international basketball partnership of the highest quality," said Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball Chief Executive Officer. "This collaboration agreement will offer us a great opportunity to learn and grow through an exchange of knowledge and ideas among leading basketball specialists. It is a great opportunity to work with these capable partners in bringing our special brand of basketball to a new audience."

"This new Euroleague partnership is about delivering substance for the benefit of basketball in China and goes far beyond a simple press release headline," said John Kristick, Infront's Executive Director Asia. "The key difference is that we are very much focusing on practical programmes to deliver tangible results for both parties," he added.

The agreement has been developed to bring the best possible knowledge and training opportunities to industry specialists through a series of management and coaching clinics organised by the CBA in China. Euroleague Basketball coaches and referees will have the chance to attend such clinics and several invitations will be extended to the CBA to participate in annual Euroleague Basketball events. These events include summer camps, ongoing player development programmes and player scouting programmes.

About the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA):

CBA, the Chinese Basketball Association, was established in June in 1956. It is the only non-governmental organization in China which has been recognized by FIBA and General Administration of Sport of China. CBA is in charge of basketball at national level. The administration center of basketball, a sub-division of CBA, takes the full responsibility of developing the sport in China. After the introduction of some reforms in 1994, the first CBA league was launched the following year. In 2005, the launch of the first CBA professional league, with 15 clubs participating, represented a giant step in the development of professional basketball in China. Currently, China national men's team places 11th on FIBA ranking while the women's team is ranked 10th.

About Infront Sport & Media:

Infront Sports & Media, based in Zug, Switzerland, is one of the most experienced international sports marketing companies in the world, with sophisticated skills in television distribution, host broadcasting, event operations, brand development and sponsorship marketing. Infront has been expanding rapidly, both organically and through strategic acquisition. It now has over 400 employees across the group, with offices in 10 countries: Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom, China, Singapore and Switzerland. The group's agreement with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) covers all key aspects of the marketing and technical development of the Chinese national teams. This unique partnership between a Chinese sports body and an international sports marketing company creates tremendous synergy in the promotion of Chinese basketball to the world.

About Euroleague Basketball:

Europe's premier basketball competition, Euroleague Basketball, was founded in 2000 under a private organisational model that is considered a breakthrough for European professional team sports. The competition features 24 clubs from 12 or more countries per season and crowns its champion each spring at the Euroleague Final Four, one of the signature events of European sports. The 2007 Euroleague Final Four will take place 4-6 May 2007 in Athens, Greece. Basketball in Europe has experienced spectacular growth in recent years, along with the development of Euroleague Basketball. In just six years, Euroleague Basketball has consolidated a competition of the highest sporting level, has introduced the concept of a professional league to Europe and has expanded its television reach beyond Europe, where 100 percent of all Euroleague Basketball games were televised in 2005-06, with coverage reaching all five continents. Euroleague Basketball attendance has increased 82% from the inaugural 2000-01 season.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Euroleague.net
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