By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
On Wednesday Miguel Cardenal, the President of the Spanish Superior Sports Council (CSD) awarded the country’s Royal Order of Merit for Sport to former FIBA President Yvan Mainini and FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann.
That was a great way also for the Spanish federation to demonstrate its ties with FIBA, as the battle for control over Euroleague still rages. The titles were bestowed because of the 2014 FIBA World Cup organization in Spain, an event which was by any account successful and Jose Luis Saez, the president of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) was also present.
However as “El Mundo Deportivo” reported Baumman during his visit in Spain met also with Josep Maria Bartomeu, the president of Barcelona, and representatives of Real Madrid. So FIBA’s moves on the European chess board continue…