During
the first Deaf World Basketball Championships in Athens, there
was a meeting among all participating countries in the Championships.
Following Deaf Sports Federations and/or their Deaf Basketball
Organisations have expressed their support to the official founding
of the Deaf International Basketball Federation, DIBF.
| Australia |
Latvia |
Russia |
Greece |
| New Zealand |
USA |
Lithuania |
Poland |
| Finland |
Turkey |
Chinese Taipei |
Great Britain |
| Sweden |
Ukraine |
Slovenia |
Israel |
This means that 16 countries out of estimated 20-23 countries
with regular and organised deaf basketball activities around the
world now recognise Deaf International Basketball Federation as
the governing body of international deaf basketball.
The meeting elected following people to the DIBF Executive Board:
President: Mr. Jussi Raisio, Finland
Secretary General: Mr. Kjell Gunna, Sweden
Treasurer: Mr. Rick Balk, USA
Member at large and provisional Vice President: Mr. Lyndon
Borrow, Australia
Member at large: Mr. Ioannis Stoufis, Greece
Two seats in the Board were reserved for women members for later
inaugurating.
During the near future the Board will work for closer relationships
to the CISS and the FIBA with the aim of affiliation with both
organisations.
The DIBF intends to be a global organisation as the governing
body of Deaf Basketball and will have strong ties to the CISS
and the FIBA (International Basketball Federation). DIBF will
first and mostly be responsible for the development of Deaf Basketball
around the world by arranging development seminars, coaches clinics,
referees clinics, supporting developing countries and more. DIBF
will also be responsible for the Deaf World Basketball Championships
and the Championships of the Regional Confederations.
Yours in basketball,
Communications
Deaf International Basketball Federation.
