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Friday, 29.03.2024, 07:11
Latvia to host preliminary round games of 2019 EuroBasket Women
Latvia has been picked as one of the hosts of the
preliminary round games of 2019 EuroBasket Women, FIBA Europe Board decided at
a meeting on Saturday.
Latvia and Serbia will host two preliminary round groups
each. The Final Stage will be played in Belgrade, Serbia. The preliminary round
groups will be played in Nis and Zrenjanin (Serbia) as well as in Riga and
Liepaja (Latvia).
Other bidders for the 2019 EuroBasket Women hosting rights
were Russia and Israel.
Latvia's bid was presented by the former leader of Team
Latvia, Anete Jekabsone-Zogota, and the Secretary General of the Latvian
Basketball Union, Edgars Sneps. The presentation included video messages from
Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs, Latvian basketball
legend Uljana Semjonova and the captain of Team Latvia, Gunta Basko-Melnbarde.
"I am sure that, with the support from the central
government and the Riga local government, we will be able to organize a true
gala of women's basketball in 2019. I hope that the good performance of Team
Latvia [at 2017 EuroBasket Women] in Prague and hosting of the 2019 EuroBasket
Women will not only bring more trainees to sports schools but will also
encourage local governments and businesses to increase their support to women's
basketball," said Valdis Voins, President of the Latvian Basketball Union.
As a host of the 2019 EuroBasket Women, Team Latvia will be
exempt from qualifying for the championship.
As reported, Latvia hosted EuroBasket Women in 2009 - in
Riga, Liepaja and Valmiera.
Team Latvia has done very well in 2017 EuroBasket Women and
is today playing Italy in the semifinals for 5th to 8th place. The top six
teams in the final EuroBasket tournament standings will qualify for next year's
FIBA World Women's Basketball World Cup, which means that a win by Latvia on
Saturday against Italy will see Latvia through to the World Cup.