Jorge Garbajosa was elected, this Saturday, as president of FIBA Europe, after a vote in which he defeated the Frenchman Jean Pierre Siutat, president of the French Federation. After his victory, the former player spoke to the media this Monday to evaluate his election as the highest European president.

He wanted to begin his speech by explaining why he had run for this election, and stated that it was a personal challenge that started from the premise that “basketball is my life, since I picked up the ball I haven't let it go.”

Beyond what this sport means to Garbajosa, this candidacy was a challenge for him. “For more than a year, the body had been asking me to transfer the union mentality to Europe,” he explained.. And, after what happened this weekend, he will have a chance to put that idea into practice for the next four years.

Visibly moved, the still president of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) explained that his new position made him feel extremely happy. “For me it is a day of enormous joy because I achieve a goal that had been on my mind for a long time, but it is also somewhat sad because I am leaving my home, one to which I hope to return,” he told the media.

NEW CHALLENGES

His slogan during the campaign was “better together, better together” and it seems that, after the results obtained, he currently has the support of 35 federations, but this is not enough for the president, since he intends to unite the 50 entities .

Regarding the challenges he is facing now, Garbajosa made it clear that he knows that what shines “are the titles, but I think that the medals are a consequence, not an objective”. Now, at the head of the European federation, he assumes that “the objective is no longer to compete but to organize”. In addition, he recognized that during his tenure he will seek to promote 3×3, women's basketball, and that he will try to strengthen the leadership of this sport on the continent.

YOUR REPLACEMENT

Garbajosa leaves his position with the men's team, being the current European and World champion and occupying number one in the FIBA ranking, so his replacement has a lot of work to maintain the level. He recommends that whoever takes up his position soon maintain “ambition and collaboration, even if they suffer a setback.”

In addition, his successor counts on him for whatever he needs. “Whoever comes I will tell him that I will always be at his disposal”, concluded the former player.