For the organization of the preliminary round of FIBA EuroBasket 2022 from 1st to 7th of September 2022 in the LANXESS Arena in Cologne, the German Basketball Association and the Lithuanian basketball federation (LKF) are „joining forces”. Since FIBA EuroBasket 2015, the host associations of the preliminary rounds have had the opportunity to look for a partner association. In 2017, Lithuania received such an invitation from Israel and played the preliminary round games in Tel Aviv.
Associated with this are joint activities such as fan and ticket projects, as well as cooperation on other levels. The Lithuanian Basketball Federation and the German Basketball Association reached an agreement on cooperation and signed a formal agreement. The partnership also means that Lithuania will be the first opponent of the DBB team in the EuroBasket preliminary round.
“Lithuania is without a doubt one of the most traditional basketball associations in the world. The enthusiasm for basketball in the country is huge, the colorful and loud fans are popular and well known in arenas around the world. We have had a friendly relationship with the Lithuanian Basketball Federation at various levels for many years. All of this motivated us to enter into a partnership with the Lithuanian basketball association for the preliminary round of EuroBasket 2022 in Cologne. We will fill the partnership with a lot of life. The green and yellow colors of the Lithuanian fans and the thousands of German fans in black, red and gold will look great in the LANXESS Arena”, – said DBB President Ingo Weiss.
The President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation Arvydas Sabonis was also pleased with the partnership and hoped that next year the fans will be able to travel freely and support the national team.
“We are glad that an agreement has been reached with the German Basketball Federation and the men’s national team will play the EuroBasket group matches in Cologne. We hope that by then the fans will be allowed to return to the arenas again and there will be no restrictions. Conditions in Cologne and Germany are really good and favourable for our fans, as well as trip to Germany is very convenient. As I mentioned, we hope that the fans will be able to travel freely and the national team will have a strong support, and together with the German Basketball Federation we will be able to create a great event for all spectators”, – said LKF president Arvydas Sabonis
The remaining of the group will be decided during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 draw that will take place on Thursday, April 29, 2021.
