Australian Bob Elphinston was elected as new FIBA President for
the 2006-2010 term of office, the International Basketball
Federation announced.
The world basketball governing body had the World Congress on
Tuesday in the Tokyo Prince Hotel Park Tower, with a total of 104
national federations presenting at the Congress.
Elphinston, 64, took the post from former president Carl Men Ky
Ching.
"I'm enormously proud to be elected as President of FIBA and to
be only the third Australian ever to be President of an
International Olympic Sports Federation," Elphinston said according
to a press release of FIBA.
Elphinston had 10-year Olympic involvement after he helped
Sydney of Australia to win the host of the 2000 Olympic Games as
the general manager of the Sydney Olympics Bid Company.
His vast experience with the Games worked out a close
relationship with the International Olympic Committee and the
FIBA as he was one of the founding directors of the Australian
National Basketball League.
"A role as President gives me the chance to directly assist a
great sport grow even more," Elphinston said. "FIBA looks forward
to an exciting Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, increased commercial
opportunities and player development with the emphasis of further
developing strong leagues in all 212 member federations."
The World Congress also ratified the composition of the FIBA
Central Board for the 2006-2010 term of office. The Central Board
is the highest executive body of FIBA and meets twice a year.
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(Xinhua News Agency?August 30, 2006)