Belgrade, Dec. 18, 2001 - Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic announced Yugoslavia's official bid to host the 2005 European Basketball Championship. Initiated by the Yugoslav Basketball Association, the Serbian government has agreed to sponsor the European Basketball Championship.
"We deserve the bid due to both our sporting and our organisational achievements," Djindjic said after a meeting with representatives of the Yugoslav Basketball Association. "It would be a great presentation of our sport and our country, which would mark the return of our country to Europe and the world. We will do everything to get the tender for the European Basketball Championship."
Aside from Belgrade, games would be played at several other sites across Yugoslavia, which fulfill the criteria of the International Basketball Federation. In the event that FIBA responds positively to Yugoslavia's candidature, serious organisational preparations would begin in February next year.
Djindjic told the press that another DM8.5 million is needed for bringing the Limes sport hall in New Belgrade into shape, as well as additional funds for completing upgrades.
According to Djindjic, the organisational board would have a Montenegrin president as well as one from Serbia, and a representative of the Yugoslav Basketball Association.
President of the Yugoslav Basketball Association Zelimir Cerovic expressed his thanks to the Serbian premier for accepting their proposal and said that Yugoslavia deserved to host the 2005 championships.
