U16 European Championship Men 2013 in Kiev. (08/08/13-18/08/13)

A press-conference was held in Kyiv dedicated to the start of the U16 European Championship Men 2013 that will be held from 8 to 18 August in the Kyiv Palace of Sports.
The press-conference was attended by the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Olexander Vilkul, the president of the Basketball Federation of Ukraine Oleksandr Volkov and Tournament Director Markian Lubkivskyi.
"In August the European basketball world will be centred in Kyiv, where from 8 to 18 August the U16 European basketball Championship will be held," claimed Vilkul to open the press-conference, continuing: "Ukraine is creating new international stars. There is no doubt that in a few years the young men who take part in this tournament will become main leaders in their adult teams. But they will always remember the games they played on our courts."
Vilkul also discussed the importance of making the tournament accessible to all.
On the initiative of the Ukrainian Government and the EuroBasket 2015 Local Organising Committee (LOC), together with the Basketball Federation of Ukraine, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and various charitable organisations, the basketball games will be attended by vulnerable children, orphans, children deprived of parental care, children from poor families and children with disabilities.
"The society must not restrain but create opportunities for children. We support all projects aimed at involving children in sports and a healthy lifestyle," said Vilkul.
During the press-conference the U16 Trophy and the winner's medals were presented to the media. "The trophy of the tournament took its present shape in 2006. Since then, it became the first continental championship trophy for which the best teams of Europe are fighting. The tournament medals were designed by the LOC especially for this event. They are manufactured in Ukraine according to the latest world trends. In the centre there is the tournament logo made with enamel," stated Tournament Director Lubkivskyi.
A total of 192 players and 92 members of official delegations of the participating teams are expected in Kyiv. Over 80 journalists are already accredited for the tournament. The biggest delegation is Spain (21). The smallest delegations are Belgium and Latvia (16).
Lubkivskyi also talked of the hours that the LOC put into organising the championship at the highest level and to provide the best conditions for all participants: players, coaches, members of official delegations, visitors, fans and media.
"The European basketball championship has received tremendous support from the volunteers, over 200 of whom have joined the team of the organisers. This is the first time that Ukraine has hosted a European basketball championship and it will also be the first time that the First National Channel will broadcast the matches of the tournament.
"I hope that this tournament will mark the beginning of a new era in Ukrainian basketball and we will be proud of our athletes," concluded Lubkivskyi.
President of the Basketball Federation of Ukraine Volkov said: "We are honoured to host the U16 European basketball Championship before EuroBasket 2015, for which our country is now actively preparing for."
In addition to that, the Basketball Federation of Ukraine is providing the best conditions for our players in preparation for European competitions. So far this season the U16 Ukraine men's team has participated in international tournaments in Belarus, Turkey, France, Lithuania and Serbia. I am sure that the U16 European Championship will be held at the highest level, which will help promote sport in Ukraine."
Volkov continued, "We will see the best 16 teams on the European continent - each one has a unique basketball school, and a different game philosophy. That is why the matches of the U16 European Championship will be very interesting for the fans."