FROM YOU

HANS TUKKER: THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009 IN ADANA

After the finals of the Willi Brinkman Cup (EuropCup 3), the finals of the André Vergauwen Cup (EuroCup 2) and the European Championships U22 Adana will be, for the fourth time, the centre of European Wheelchair Basketball with the European Championships for men 2009.

Personally this is third time that I will visit Adana. I was active in both EuroCup finals, once as the Technical Delegate and once as the IWBF representative. Adana was not the only place in Turkey I visited for wheelchair basketball. I was also twice in Izmir and once in Istanbul for European events. I have visited Turkey for my family holidays at least 11 times and even once, a week Ankara/Istanbul for my former job as officer of the Royal Netherlands Army.

I am looking forward to continue my experience with the very hospitable, friendly and flexible people, who do the utmost to offer their guests a pleasant time in Turkey. For wheelchair basketball that means that they like to create optimal circumstances to play a high level tournament.

In the mid nineties, in my time as President of IWBF Europe, we tried to help the Turkeys people to create a base for wheelchair basketball, and at the same time some initiatives by Turkish people living in Germany. After a few, some not too successful development clinics, the situation was changed dramatically. More structure, better officials and many more teams. Turkey has grown up now to a respected team in the Division A and in a couple of years a candidate for a medal, at least according to my appreciation. The female team is a little inexperienced, but it is a team with potential. The U23 showed recently in Paris with a 5th place at the world championships that was the saying “who has the youth who has the future” is correct, we may expected a lot of Turkey’s wheelchair basketball in the future.
At club level, it seems that the structure of the competition is good. The full professional team of Galatasary became this year for the second time in row European Club Champion. Unfortunately the number of foreign players is a little too high, but the other teams play a nice role in several EuroCup events and gather much experience. Further, Turkey has many well developed IWBF licensed referees and also some IWBF classifiers. Once again a signal that Turkey made a strong development. Together Demirhan Serafhan and Ali Duran Karakaya maybe proud about the development in the last decade.

What do I expect from the games. I expect many close games, with Great Britain and Germany as the top favourites and Italy, Spain and Sweden as outsiders. But do not underestimate teams such as France, Israel and Turkey. If Poland can play with its strongest team it could be the surprise of the event. The battle for relegation will be hard and I fear for the position of my own country.

Although we have a couple of months to go, I already look forward to the games and the hospitality in Adana. I hope to see you there as player, official or supporter.

UTKU ERTAN:ADANA, THE CITY OF KEBAB OR WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

Adana, an agricultural city, south of Turkey, is famous for the traditional dish, kebab. However, kebab has been facing a strong opponent for the last 5 years. Wheelchair basketball is on the agenda of the city more than anything. Adana gradually became a city of wheelchair basketball. In 2005, a preliminary round for Willi Brinkmann Cup was organized, in 2006 the finals of Andre Vergauwen Cup was a big success and then in 2007 the finals of Willi Brinkmann Cup was organized, recently in 2008, U22 European Championship was organized and selected one of the best organizations in Europe by the participants. Finally in 2009, the third biggest event in the world of wheelchair basketball after the Paralimpic Games and World Cup, European Championships for Men will be organized in October with the participation of 12 best teams of Europe. To be able to represent their nations in the World Cup in 2010 Birmingham, the teams will try to be ranked in the first five.

After the big surprise of Sweden in Wetzlar Eurobasketball 2007, home team Turkey is looking for the same kind of rise. Turkey is aiming to be in the first five and participate in the Gold Cup for the first time in her history of wheelchair basketball. Each year the nations grow more equal and this makes the sports more unique and exciting. In addition, the citizens of Adana is well known for their liking of wheelchair basketball. They showed their interest in the final of U22 European Championship last summer Turkey vs. Spain game. All the tickets were sold out and there were a lot of spectators who stayed outside.

It will not be a suprise for anyone, if Adana makes a bid for the World Junior Championships in 2013. Behind all this change there is a dedicated group. Starting from Mr. Ali Duran Karakaya, the person in charge of wheelchair basketball for the Turkish Sports for the Physically Disabled Federation, who is also the President of the LOC and Mr. İsmail Güneş, the coordinator of the LOC, made the mayor, the governor and all the firms of the Adana believe that wheelchair basketball is a great sport and got their support. In addition, National Lottery, Turkish Presentation Fund, Hilton Hotel and TEMSA (transportation sponsor) decided to sponsor the organization.

In every organization of Adana, I was a referee, a TV commentator, an interpreter or a volunteer. That’s why I’m sure Adana will give us an another unforgettable tournament.

Good luck Adana.

See you in October 5th

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A BED FOR YOU IN ADANA

Adana will always be a special place for me. The first time I visited “the biggest village of Turkey” was in October 2004, when Ron Coppenrath asked me to do an accommodation check, in function for the organization of a EuroCup Preliminary Round in 2005.

I was guided around by the Turkish WBB president Ali Karakaya and interpreter Levent Kurt. This was the first time that I visited Turkey for WBB. What I learned before about the Turkish people on a family trip was stated: confirmed: Turkish are very hearty! I felt at home at once, and when I went home early on Sunday morning, Ali asked Kurt to translate something for me: “There will always be a bed for you in Adana …”.

My second visit was three years later in 2007, on the occasion of the WBC Final Round, as the tournament commissioner. In this tournament I learned a lot about the great Turkish flexibility!

With my last visit, I had the honor to be the Technical Delegate on the 5th European Championship U22 last year 2OO8. This was a hard job, but the level of organization was quite high, and the support I got from organizer Ali,ismail and his many volunteers, was really helping me a lot! Thanks to the support of the organization and my “personal assistant” Gülen Emreun, we managed to give our youth an unforgettable championship.

I wish my brother Ali, his many volunteers, the City and the Government of Adana all success with the organization of this European Championship!

Luc DE KNOCK