SportGibraltar

Basketball: Great achievement for John Goncalves

John Gonçalves, Gib’s ‘Mr. Basketball’, has achieved a tremendous 7th. position on the 23-seat Board of FIBA Europe, in the vote at the General Assembly, held in Munich (Germany) on Saturday (13th.).

The election was to fill the 23 seats on the Board of the governing body of basketball in Europe; there were 36 candidates with 49 countries voting – only Azerbaijan was absent.

John Gonçalves just missed out in the 2002 elections, taking 25th. place with 30 votes; but then stepped up to a seat on the Board, following the death of Israel’s Dan Kesten in June 2003.

On this occasion, however, he soared up the table registering 41 votes only having in front of him some of the giants of the world of basketball. Only eight delegates did not give him their vote and this amply acknowledges the work carried out and his contribution to the Board’s work.

Shortly after the results had been announced, John Gonçalves said: “I am overwhelmed. I felt I stood a reasonable chance of being re-elected but never expected to get so much support. Many of my colleagues from many countries did some great canvassing for me and I owe this result to them.”

Meanwhile, George Vassilakopoulos (Greece) was returned unopposed as President.

It should be mentioned that ahead of John were only Greece (49), Germany (47), Turkey
(46), Croatia and Spain (44) and France (43). (Source: Chronicle.gi)

FIBA Europe is an international federation whose membership consists of the national basketball federations of Europe, of which there are currently 50 members. The highest decision making body is the Board of FIBA Europe which consists of 25 persons elected by the national federations. The Board of FIBA Europe meets twice a year and is the executive body which represents all 50 federations that make up the membership of FIBA Europe.

John has recently been heavily involved in some of the board's decision making.
Click here: to read about what he had to say.

Congratulations to John on a great achievement and for being a true sporting ambassador for Gibraltar.

Click here: to read more about The Board of FIBA Europe