Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

A Wonderful New Year to All!

Dear basketball family,

In a few days we will start into a NEW year, so the time has come to look back on the “old” one. The year 2022 was still a difficult year, not like the year 2021, but this year also presented us with challenges. A year that gives us hope that we will soon be able to live a “normal” life again in private, professional, and sporting areas.

Of course, the pandemic still exists, and we don’t know if there will be new mutations. Due to the number of vaccinations and the fact that many people have already been infected with the virus, the future looks better now we hope. We will have to learn to live with Covid until we defeat the pandemic entirely.

Despite the difficult framework conditions, we can look back on a sportingly successful year in 2022 with great performances and excellently organized events.

At club level we had an exciting Champions Cup 2022 with 8 teams in Thuringia, where Albacete team won in an all-Spanish final. Gran Canaria team won the EuroCup 1 in Hanover and Red Dragon Metz team won the EuroCup 2 in Sassari. Congratulations!

We witnessed a very well organized combined European Championship Divisions B and C, with a perfect infrastructure – hotel and sports hall in one complex – in Sarajevo. Thank you again!

Congratulations goes to Türkiye Champion in Division B and Serbia Champion in Division C. A big disappointment combined with anger is certainly that the World championship in Dubai has been postponed to next year at short notice for everyone. I’m sure our qualified teams will make the best of the situation and play an important role in next year’s World championship, both women and men.

I would like to thank all those responsible in the nations, in the clubs, for the honest and collegial cooperation. Thanks are due to all players, trainers, coaches and everyone involved. Without you IWBF Europe and European wheelchair basketball would not be so successful.

I would also like to thank my Executive board and especially Petr Tucek, who are doing a great job. The successful management of IWBF Europe is only possible through their work and dedication. I wish you all, your families and loved ones a merry Christmas and a happy and above all healthy NEW YEAR!

“When we realize that the time we take for another person is the most precious gift we can give, we have understood the meaning of Christmas.”

(Roswitha Bloch)

Walter Pfaller
President