IWBF World Congress Elects Executive Council

The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation held their World Congress today and among other things elected the Executive Council members who will serve for the next four years.

Re-elected as President is Mrs. Maureen Orchard of Canada. Mrs. Orchard will be joined by the following returning Executive Council members; Mr. Steve Spilka, Great Britain Treasurer, Mr. Ron Coppenrath, the Netherlands Competition Commission President; Mr. Norbert Kucera, Germany, President Technical Commission; Mr. Don Perriman, Australia, President Player Classification Commission; Mr. Jan Berteling, the Netherlands, President of the Commission for Legal Matters and Eligibility, and Members-at-large Mr. Ricardo Moreno, Spain and Mr. Mario Fahrasmane, France. Elected for the first time is Mr. Ulf Mehrens, Germany as Vice-President.

Mrs. Orchard thanked the delegates for the confidence they showed in her by re-electing her for a further four years. She assured them that the next four years will be exciting years as IWBF moves to separate World Championships for men and women with the announcement of the 2014 hosts. Goyang City, South Korea will host the men and Toronto, Canada will host the women. Canada will also host the first U25 Women’s World Championship in St. Cathanines, Ontario July 14 – 24, 2011.

The Congress welcomed new members Belarus, Honduras and Nigeria to the IWBF. The delegates approved the new rules which will go into effect October 1, 2010 and approved the introduction of 3 on 3 as a division of IWBF. Orchard told the Congress that IWBF believes that 3 on 3 will give new opportunities to small nations as well as women to get involved in wheelchair basketball.

The meeting heard remarks from Bob Elphinston, President of the International Basketball Federation, who remarked on the excellent relationship between FIBA and IWBF. 

Orchard thanked out going Vice-President Greg Love for his contribution and reminded the delegates that he will continue to be involved in his role as Secretary General of Asia Oceania.

For further information please contact:

International Wheelchair Basketball Federation Secretariat
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Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R2P 2P8
PH: 1.204.632.6475; Fax:1.204.415.6515
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Web: www.iwbf.org