Ukraine withdraws as Eurobasket 2015 host

Ukraine

Ukraine has formally informed FIBA of its desire to withdraw as the Eurobasket 2015 hosts. The move is understandable considering the current political tension between them and Russia. Tensions were recently turned up a notch after Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a treaty allowing Crimea to become part of the Russian Federation.

“I cannot imagine how to carry out preparations in the current severe economic and political conditions,” Eurobasket 2015 tournament director Markiyan Lubkivsky said in a statement.

“The first and main unfavorable condition is the aggression of Russia towards Ukraine that has caused instability and threatens the security of South-Eastern regions of Ukraine.

“This situation demands for Ukraine to review our priorities and concentrate financial and political resources for saving territorial integrity and even independence.”

“It is obvious our country cannot afford to support private investors building the arenas or fund preparations that we are responsible for. Moreover, the local organizing committee feels [there is a] lack of time.”

Ukraine has expressed its desire to host Eurobasket in 2017. Some of the potential hosts of Eurobasket 2015 are France, Germany and possibly the Czech Republic.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.