By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
Last time we heard or read something about Eurobasket 2013, was… in 2012! And the news weren’t exactly the best ones. That is why we decided to take things into our own hands. We got in touch with Anže Blažič, communications manager of Eurobasket 2013 and this is what we learned.
FIBA Europe was in Slovenia last week, when Sakis Kontos, FIBA Europe’s Communications Manager and Monika Puchner, FIBA Europe’s event coordinator checked all media hotels, while they coordinated media activities with Local Organizing Committee. “The impression of both was great because we will offer really good official media hotels (alongside with good hotels for teams, officials, VIP guests etc.)”, Mr. Blažič said to us, while adding “last visit to the halls was after EuroBasket 2013’s draw in Postojna Cave, in November, when representatives from FIBA, FIBA Europe and LOC determined working areas for different segments of the tournament. We are in daily, sometimes even hourly contact with FIBA Europe and we are constantly reporting (among other things) new progress in arena renovations. Everything is according to the plan”.
FIBA Europe got to know that Slovenia won’t be able to build new arenas “long before last November”. Since then “there are a lot of new things”. Like? “Jesenice has started renovating their arena, while Koper and Ljubljana have done their jobs. There is also a lot of new progress in organizational point of view. The LOC has signed different contracts with sponsors and it is still in daily talks with few more, we have finalized the ticketing strategy (we will publish the prices and sales start in early February). In the meantime, we are promoting EuroBasket all over Slovenia, we are preparing for promotion in some foreign countries, we are continuing all operative tasks, etc.”.
For anyone who might want to get a Eurobasket “hosting fee is 3 million euros and sponsorship fee is an additional 3 million euros” so you need 6.000.000 euros, which with today’s economy is like asking for a miracle. And the story is getting ever more interesting, when you know that “before EuroBasket 2013 the hosts had to pay just the hosting fee of 3 million euros”. Yeap, they increased the number -like we are living in an ideal world.
What’s the deal with the sponsors of Eurobasket 2013, which you can find on Twitter (@eurobasketlt)? “We have signed two main sponsors, which are Hypo Alpe Adria and Fructal, one event sponsor which is Spar Slovenia and two supply sponsors: Panvita and Sintal. We have some new cooperation already agreed and some of them in final talks. In any case, the LOC can sign 4 main sponsors, 4 event and 8 supply sponsors” to find the extra 3 million euros
There are rumors which state FIBA Europe has gotten a really large amount of Slovenia’s fee, but not all the money. Which is the truth? “The government does not give any money to LOC, but to FIBA Europe, for their contract partner for hosting and sponsorship fee, so you will have to ask FIBA Europe or Slovenian government”. We asked FIBA Europe and yes, they haven’t got all the money yet, but as they told us there isn’t any need to worry.
When we asked Mr. Blažič if Eurobasket 2013’s people feel confident that everything will be OK, he let us know “we are absolutely sure EuroBasket 2013 will be a successful event, leaving big legacy in Slovenia, satisfied fans, teams, officials and everybody else that will visit Slovenia in September. The reason for this confidence lies in our organizational know-how, experience and good feedback from previous tournaments and Slovene hospitality”.