A historic day for sport: Cyprus set to co-host EuroBasket group phase

European basketball’s governing body FIBA on Tuesday decided that Cyprus will be among the three countries to host the group phase of the EuroBasket tournament in 2025.
Finland and Latvia will be the other two host countries, with the latter also set to be the home of the tournament’s final phase.

Cyprus only placed a bid to organise the group phase.

“This is a historic day for sport in Cyprus,” a statement released by the Cyprus Basketball Federation (CBF) following FIBA’s announcement said.
“It proves that our bid was solid enough to convince EuroBasket’s organising body to assign some important group phase games of the tournament to our country.”

The games will all take place at Limassol’s Spyros Kyprianou venue, the biggest multi-dynamic indoor athletic arena in Cyprus, which opened in 2005.
“Our bid was fully backed by the government, the Cyprus Sport Organisation (CSO), the Cyprus Olympic Committee and the Limassol municipality,” the CBF announcement said.

As a host country, the Cyprus national basketball team will also take part in the EuroBasket group phase for the first time ever.
“Hosting the tournament will be a great honour for us and highlights the good work we have done so far, as well as the excellent relations and trust built between Cyprus and FIBA,” the announcement concluded.

Following the assignment of the 2025 EuroBasket group phase to Cyprus, ruling Disy released a statement congratulating the CBF for their achievement.
“We welcome the great success of Cypriot basketball and of Cypriot sports in general, for their successful bid to host part of the tournament,” the statement said.

“Cyprus will be a key player in one of the most important basketball tournaments in the world, which will attract many visitors from around the world, giving great visibility to our country.
“Warm congratulations to the CBF and to all parties involved in achieving such a great result.”

Russia’s bid was suspended by FIBA following its invasion of Ukraine. The board of European basketball’s governing body has also decided to continue exclusive discussions with Ukraine for the hosting of the fourth group of the tournament until November 2022.