By Paul Osborne

FIBA's National Member Federaions set to vote on new General Statues ©FIBAMarch 15 - The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is set to welcome 200 of its 213 National Member Federations to Istanbul this weekend as the world governing body gets set to vote on a new set of general statutes.


In this first Extraordinary Congress for 25 years - the last being held in Munich, Germany in 1989 - FIBA's member federations will vote whether to introduce these new general statutes which are hoped to "bring changes to its governance structure in order to strengthen the organisation in view of future challenges and strategic growth opportunities."

The new statutes have been worked on by FIBA's Central Board for the past two years following an agreement at the last ordinary Congress, also held in Istanbul, in 2010.

The proposed changes will see:

· The change of dual memberships of the National Member Federations (FIBA and Zones) to single membership (FIBA).

· The Central Board expanded from 23 to 29 Members with additional key stakeholder representation from the National Basketball Association (NBA) and athletes specifically. 

· National Member Federations elect the Central Board members at the Congress.

· Zones act as FIBA in their region through Regional Offices.

· Zone secretary general/executive director appointed by the Executive Committee in consultation with the Zones.

· The Creation of an Executive Committee consisting of Central Board members in charge of accompanying and monitoring the implementation of FIBA's strategy.

· National Federations meet every two years as of 2017 then yearly after 2023.

FIBA hopes to reflect the growth of the game by expanding the Central Board to 29 members and including specific positions for the NBA and the athletes of the game ©Getty ImagesFIBA hopes to reflect the growth of the game by expanding the Central Board to 29 members and including specific positions for the NBA and the athletes of the game ©Getty Images



The Extraordinary Congress will be held at Ciragan Palace Kempinski, in conjunction with the Official Draw for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women which is set to take place later today.

The Congress is set to be attended by a record number of stakeholders showing the significance of the changes being made to FIBA's governance.

If the new amendments are approved, the election process for the next ordinary Congress to be held at the end of August of this year in Spain will be running under the provisions of the new general statutes.

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