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FIMBA HISTORY

HISTORY OF THE MAXIBASKETBALL MOVEMENT

Maxibasketball was created in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1969. That year, a group of ex-players shared together an exhibition game in a court. A few months later Mr. Eduardo Rodriguez Lamas impelled the creation of the ARGENTINEAN BASKETBALL VETERANS UNION. In the following years, the category rules were introduced. 
The first International Tournament took place in Argentina, in 1978, holding the South American Championship, under the sponsorship of the South American Basketball Federation (Consubasquet) depending of FIBA.


During the 70s, the Argentinean authorities began the promotion in other countries. In that way the category became successfully to be an usual practice in Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Central America: Costa Rica and Guatemala. Later, these countries founded their own national federations.
In 1982 the 1st Pan-American Games were held in Buenos Aires, under the sponsorship of the Pan-American Confederation (Copaba) depending of FIBA.


In 1984, a group of enthusiastic sportsmen in Canada held the idea of organizing an International Sport Jamboree for Mature People. The Argentinean helped them with basketball and, in 1985, the Masters Games were made. It was a test of the world interest in basketball at the mature age.


In the middle 80’s the Argentinean Federation was looking for an unique denomination for the category players, because of the variety of names given in different languages: Masters, Seniors, Veterans, Golden Oldies, etc.
Its secretary, Mr. Hilario Briones, proposed the new word “Maxibasketball” to the Board. He explained it was the opposite of minibasketball, the first basketball category. And instead of defining players with a passive fact, the word shows active sport participation. It was accepted and in a few years the name spreader around the world.
The Latin prefix Maxi, (meaning “the highest”) and Basketball compose the word Maxibasketball
In 1985 the “Argentinean Maxibasketball Federation” was born.
In 1987 the idea of a World Maxibasketball Championship appeared. Argentina offered to hold it, being the leader of the movement in the world.


During the following four years, the Argentinean representatives, travelled around the world promoting the event. In 1991, the 1st WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP took place in Buenos Aires with 32 teams from 8 countries: Uruguay, USA, Guatemala, Brazil, Russia, Estonia, Finland, and Argentina.


The INTERNATIONAL MAXIBASKETBALL FEDERATION was created on August 21st, 1991. Eight countries signed its foundation. Its first President was Eduardo Rodriguez Lamas, from Argentina. He is now known as the Maxibasketball creator.
Next year Las Vegas, USA, was appointed to hold the 2nd WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP in 1993. At that time the number of teams increased to 34 - only in men category- and to 10 countries: Argentina, Estonia, Latvia, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Chile and USA.


Forty men teams from 10 countries went to the 3rd MAXIBASKETBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP held in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 1995: Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Latvia, Guatemala, Brazil, Chile, Lithuania, USA and Costa Rica.
New authorities were voted in that year with the continuity of the presidency. For the first time two charges at the Board of Governors, the President and the General Secretary were from the same country. During the games, Helsinki, Finland was appointed for 1997 and it was officially announced as the following city for the Championship. For the very first time, Europe was a hope. It was a country with enough experience because of their Olympic Games in 1952 and their periodical assistance to International events and to the first World Championship, six years before.


Is in that time when FIMBA appears in the world wide spectrum of Maxibasketball, enlarging it with the European participation and instituting the distinctive and unique name of the category. Is from that moment on when FIMBA becomes Maxibasketball, without any doubt and it sole name means the category
During two years, the 4th WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, Helsinki 1997 Organizing Committee worked day and night with FIMBA to hold the biggest tournament ever made. 97 teams from 23 countries attended the event.
During the tournament Montevideo, Uruguay was officially announced as the host city for the 5th WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, 1999.


In that year the Regional Secretaries were appointed. Europe got his Secretary and started working for the 1st European Championship.


In 1999, when the 20th Century was finishing, the event went back to South America. Almost 100 teams in both men and women categories attended the tournament. In eight years since the first Championship the involved countries increased in a hundred twenty times and in three hundred times the teams registered.
For the third time in a row the same President and Vice President were formally voted. The city for the 1st European Maxibasketball Championship was appointed the city of Riga, for 2000. And the city for the Pan-American Championship -now under FIMBA regulations- Guatemala City was appointed for the same 2000 year.


During the Social Party in Montevideo the announcement of the Host City for the 6th WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, 2001 was fabulously feasted when Ljubljana, Slovenia was appointed.
In June 2000, almost 90 teams shared together in Riga, Latvia for the 1st EUROPEAN MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. In July, Guatemala received almost 50 teams for the 1st PAN-AMERICAN MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
In 2001, Valparaiso-Viña del Mar, Chile was appointed to hold the 2nd PAN-AMERICAN MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, November 9th to 16th, 2002. Athens, Greece, was appointed for the 2nd EUROPEAN MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP to be held in July 13th to 20th, 2002.


For the second time the World Championship was hosted in Europe. Ljubljana has the privilege of being the first 21st Century event and to break the 100 registered teams limit.


In 2001 FIMBA was sponsored the AFRICAN MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP to be held in September in Pretoria, South Africa.
Ljublana had the privilege to announce the place for the 7th WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, the Wide World of Sports at Disney World. For the first time Disney World shared with FIMBA the organization of a World Championship.
The Host City for the 8th WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP has been announced in Orlando, Fl, USA at the social party on September 9th, 2003, it will be Christchurch, New Zealand form January 22-30, 2005.


During 2004 there have been the European 2004 in Helsinki, Finland and the Pan-American 2004 in Parana, Argentina.
In January 2005 in Christchurch, New Zealand, during the 8th WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, for the first time the “Eduardo Awards” were given out in ten categories to preserve the name of the creator of the category and to promote it through the world: Mr. Eduardo Rodriguez Lamas (1925-2003).


There were announced the host cities fort the new FIMBA tournaments: 1st Maxibasketball Central American Championship, in San Jose, Costa Rica in September 2005 and the first edition of the World Champions League for men 40, in Buenos Aires, Argentina in November 2005.


Also were announced the host cities for the 4th PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2006, in Guaruja, Brazil, April 1-8, the 4th EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2006, in Hamburg, Germany in July-August, and the brand new regional event, the 1st Central Caribbean Championship, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in October.


In March 2005, during the FIBA President Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico, FIMBA was invited to work actively in FIBA and in an unforgettable moment of the congress, the category was recognized as one of the most successful in the world, and FIMBA as one of the most important worldwide entities with more basketball accomplishments goals.


In November 2005, the first Edition of the World Champions League was held in Buenos Aires, with the medalist winner in Regional and World Championships. Brazil was the winner followed by Argentina. Poland was third and Italy fourth.
Before the end of that year the Second Edition host city was been worked and several countries from both continents ask for the application.


At the beginning of 2006, the 4th Pan-American Championship was held in Guaruja and the host city for the 5th edition was announced. Uruguay will host another 5th championship; first the World and after the Pan-American.
The 2nd edition for the Central Caribbean was recall and the great world party in 2007 in Puerto Rico.
In Hamburg at the 4th European Championship, the 2008 city for the 5th edition will be announced.
In October 2006 the first FIMBA Central Caribbean Championship, was held in Dominican Republic. Two events in Central America region in two years in a row, after the Central America FIMBA Championship in Costa Rica in 2005, were made.


In 2007 the second Editions of the FIMBA World Champions League was organized in Lublin, Poland and this time the champion was Russia. The 9th FIMBA World Championship was in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico with its 9th World Championship accomplished the amount of 128 teams registered. It was a marathon of games in one of the highest sport events even made in the human history of one sport.
There was announced the host city for the 10th World Championship in the pretty city of Prague. For the second time the Eduardo Awards were given and the Golden Eduardo was for the Italian Giuseppe Ponzoni who becomes the Maxibasketball Ambassador for two years. The awards  the winners of the Literature contest 2007 also were given. More than 270 short stories were received.


In September 2007 FIMBA organized and made for the first time the Maxi Day. That day remembers the maxisport and more than 10.000 players’ worldwide plays in his/her towns, cities and countries.
In Montevideo 2008 was announced the 6th Pan-American Championship in the city of Eugene, Oregon, USA. Also was launched officially Fimba TV, the first broadcasting in the human history, transmitting live and directly all FIMBA events around the world.
Also was introduced the book called  “The Ulysses bags” the book that presents the compilation of  the 9 first short stories winners in the sport category and the first 9 in travel category.
The website over past the 190.000 cliks becoming the site in the first one more visited in the maxisport history.


The year 2008 has become an important time for the second age. The most important historical facts for the second and third age in sport were fulfilled. This year will rest as a jumper for the future.
In 2008 the 5th FIMBA European Championship was made in the city of Pesaro with the record of 105 teams and more than 2.300 persons. The 6th host city for the European was announced: Zagreb, 2010. The Third Edition of the World Champions league was remembered and the launching of the First Edition of the Women World Champions League, Parana, Argentina, in September 2010 was announced.


Also after a short time since it was launched, Fimba TV enter in the place 98 of the international ranking of minutes viewed, among millions of on-line televisions. During every Tuesday of October FIMBA showed his Special Board meeting live on TV.
In 2009 the 10th World Championship was held in Prague. They were 159 teams and 2,800 participants. There were played 419 games, were live broadcasting 159 games with the historical record of almost 200,000 viewers on-line. There were evaluated 4 new referees for FIMBA Referees. The new FIMBA Structure was approved and new work committees were created. The third edition of the “Eduardo Awards” was made and delivered the 10 trophies of the different categories. Natal, Brazil, was announced as the host city for the 11th World Maxibasketball Championship in June-July 2011.
In the year 2010 the 6th Pan-American Championship was organized in Eugene, Oregon, USA, being the first time that it was organized in this country. The European was organized in Zagreb breaking again the records of teams and participants. Fimba TV transmitted 6 games live diary in each of the two events coming to a new number of spectators who overcame any previous expectation.  Puerto Montt 2012, Chile was announced for the 7th Pan-American Championship and Kaunas 2012, Lithuania for the next European Championship.


In the year 2011 FIMBA Celebrated his first 20 years and feasted in Natal, Brazil during the 11th World Championship where it was beat another record of teams, participants and companions. 161 teams, 3.200 participants, 424 games and Fimba TV overcame in 10.000 spectators the 200.000 on-line of previous years. The Eduardo Awards were given in the magnificent Social Party, absolutely free and with the presence of 3.000 persons. Thessaloniki , Greece was announced as the host city for the 12th World Championship, 2013.


Eight new FIMBA Representatives were confirmed and the election of the International Board was carried out, being elected for acclamation the former authorities with the incorporation of other three world personalities. There were delivered medals in 17 categories. The final of the category men 40+ was seen by millions of Brazilians in the network O'Globo. For the first time the entity make the teams registration digitally. The winners of the Literary Contest were announced. The contest was made with the publishing house Umbrales Ediciones who took as judges prestigious writers of different countries in Spanish, Portuguese and English. There was conformed the new Health Committee integrated by medics of five different countries for beginning the studies with several as a whole with Universities of three countries.

 

The edition of the magazine "Overtime" with the Celebration of the 20 years had 75 pages. Also this year was made the tournament Basketball on the Sea with the participation of American and European teams. It was the first basketball tournament in the history of the mankind in a cruise. In 2012 there was organized in March the Pan-American championship in Puerto Montt, Chile. It was the first event in the Patagonia where thousands of players from all America enjoyed the tournament who was broadcasted live on Fimba TV with more than 200,000 spectators. In July the European championship was made in Kaunas, Lithuania in a very high professional level. The basketball city of Europe got 115 teams and we launched the on-line live statistics of games been followed along with the final games broadcasted in Fimba TV by more than 500,000 spectators. In November the 3rd Central Caribbean Championship was held in Panamá city with hundred of players and three invited countries: Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. In July 2013 Thessaloniki, Greece hosted the 12th World Championship with 170 teams. An extraordinary record of participants and an excellent organization. Was the first time with a digital and media development for a FIMBA event. A million of spectators enjoyed live images and games. There were delivered the Eduardo Awards along with the Literature Contest involving many writers.


In the year 2014 were organized the Pan American and the European Championships. In Lima, Peru, 87 teams from all America and an European team invited as Ambassador, participated in a championship that exceeded the sport because the geographical situation and the historical sites of the country. In Ostrava, Czech Republic, 89 teams competed including a female American team as Ambassador. There were announced the future host cities: San Jose in Costa Rica 2016 and Novi Sad, Serbia 2016. At the end of the year in the traditional Maxi Day thousands of teams participated around the world.

 

The year 2015 began with the incredible number of 150 teams registered for the World Championship, Orlando 2015 that was developed in the month of August. This figure announced openly an overcoming of teams from the last world championship that had already been record. Finally in Orlando met 210 teams from 40 different countries being the championship of greater participation in the history of the basketball. The level of sporting level, social, organizational and the infrastructure of the ESPN Disney Wide World of Sport, where was held the championship, was of excellence. Eduardo Awards were given along with the awards of the Literary Contest organized for that championship. Again was delivered the Eduardo Award for "Fair Play" together with the Panathlon Club International.

 

In 2016 the two regional championships were held in Europe and America. Among the two championships 349 teams were brought together. This seemed to be a record. Even though year after year the exponential growth of the category created in the previous century, and internationalized in 1991, had been affirmed in the world and in the countries of the five continents.

 

In Costa Rica, which had an unthinkable number of teams, was developed an exceptional tournament with the visit of the organizers of the next World Championship to be held in Montecatini. The brand new National Stadium was opened for the visit of the Representatives. The venue for the next Pan American was expected at the Social Party. Natal, in Brazil was selected. They had experience because they had done an excellent World Cup years before. In Novi Sad, the Serbs organized am excellent championship and anticipated what would be the next World Championship on that continent. The Social party was top-notch and the next host city, Maribor, in Slovenia was unveiled. The city on the banks of the Danube with its sandy coast had a party every night in this dream place.

 

Before the end of the year, a devastating reality was already in sight, there were going to be more than 300 teams registered to participate in the World Championship in Montecatini, Italy. 379 teams from countries of the 5 continents participated. 5,685 male and female players, 8,230 total attendees who invaded and took over the Tuscan city for 10 days. The parade of the delegations through the city occupied 10 blocks of people in an endless flow. It was the largest event of the category in history, surpassing the participants that come together in the Winter Olympics. Espoo, Finland, the host city for the next World Championship and the city of Matsue in Japan were announced. In 2018 the regional events were in Natal and Maribor. Two high-level sports championships with outstanding organizations. Were announced the next regional cities, Pan-American in Paraná, Argentina and European in Malaga, Spain. The World League was played in Japan, becoming the first maxibasketball tournament in the history of that country. The perfect organization was recognized in Espoo World Championship winning two "Eduardo" statuettes for Best Organization and Best Logo.

 

That year 2019 began with the first international 3x3 tournament of the category in Cancun, Mexico and continued with the World League in Kaunas, Lithuania, a basketball city whose legendary player Arvydas Sabonis was the president of the highest entity of the sport. He walked his meter twenty-one through the courts where teams played at a level of excellence. In the middle of the year, the World Championship was organized in the city of Espoo, where the 80-year-old category was played for the first time. It was an unusual spectacle. The stands were immediately filled up with the attendees at the final game. A tournament marked by the care of the environment and a perfect organization. The Orlando host city with 20 courts in three complexes side by side was announced, anticipating a colossal future.

 

Plans for 2020 and 2021 were frustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic that took away many players and leaders. All programming for those two years were suspended. In its replacement in 2020, the first Basketball at Home event was organized, a digital event with individual skills that turned out to be a family and sports glue in the terrible critical health moment in the world. As of that year and due to the power of digitization, School for Sports was created. A FIMBA tool for teaching, training, and improvement. Hundreds of courses were given while the classroom was forbidden, taking advantage of it to improve the structure and create electronic learning mechanisms.

 

FIMBA and Spalding launched the maxibasketball ball. Between 2020 and 2021, more than two hundred meetings per digital platform were held in different languages. On August 21st, 2021, was commemorated the 30 years of FIMBA with a virtual toast. The Representatives of the member's countries, the authorities of the different commissions and spectators have participated.

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In 2022, national and international activity restarted. After the pandemic safeguards, FIMBA provided support, care, and hygienic and medical controls. 

 

That two-year interval on the courts began the XI Pan American Championship, Paraná, Argentina, from March 18 to 26. At the Opening Ceremony the members of the 2004 organization were highlighted, including a tribute to Luis Silva from Entre Ríos and Inés Isaurralde from Entre Ríos. Buenos Aires, two Argentine pioneers of maxibasket and the FIMBA. 

 

130 teams from 15 countries participated. All participants, referees, companions and managers were tested and the PCR tests regarding COVID-19 were studied.

 

In 2020, three weeks before the start of the original championship in 2022, the Organizer held a huge basketball event organizing a tournament for boys and girls up to 12 years old by teams from the clubs of the city of Paraná. Each of them represented the countries participating in the Pan American Maxibasketball Championship with their own flags colored t-shirts, ending in an exhibition and kermesse of the member countries, presenting traditional foods, souvenirs, typical clothing and data about each one, with the presence of Ambassadors, Consuls and Diplomatic Personnel of the countries, being an international party, an incredible movement in the city and a multitudinous presence, fulfilling the sporting agglutination of the training players, the joint work of the population, the clubs , the schools and especially the Women's Maxibasketball Federation that organized the idea and developed it.

 

The 11th European Championship, Malaga, Spain was from June 24 to July 3. 183 teams from 24 countries participated and 479 games were played. Russia was not present due to the armed conflict with Ukraine after the IOC and FIBA ​​resolved the ban on its participation. That year the International Sports Arbitration Court promoted by FIMBA was legalized. An extraordinary tool to resolve sports problems between entities and people. 

 

Spalding's official FIMBA balls were inaugurated in both championships of the year.

 

The online statistics and fixtures and the direct televising of the events' games produced an exponential growth, reaching better and more people. 2,160 medals were awarded that year allowing many thousands more to realize their dreams.

 

Once the two-year impasse was completed, the Pandemic was overcome and the light of hope shone again in the world. The venues for the 2021 World Championship and the 2022 championships were lost but could be replaced by each of the tournaments.

 

At the beginning of 2023, when Disney had already given up due to the pandemic, Mar del Plata, the magnificent oceanic city, awarded the venue for the 16th World Maxibasketball Championship and worked tirelessly to achieve it. The date was from August 26 to September 3. The reopening was enormous, 279 teams from 32 countries registered and 730 games were played, in 20 age categories of both branches. They were not only disputed in the city's ejido, but in two surrounding cities, Miramar and Santa Clara del Mar. The unconditional support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Nation and the Mayor of the city of Mar del Plata allowed the marvel by promoting the venue during the period up to the competition. The draw was televised at the headquarters of the Sports Organization with the presence of the Minister himself who delivered the Declaration of National Interest, watching the event by thousands of spectators around the world. 

 

That year was transcendental, not only because of the championship but because of the changes that occurred in FIMBA. With the media coverage of the event, the full house in the best stages, the presence of several World, Olympic, European and Pan American Champion players, renowned athletes gathered. In the FIMBA match, an institution held in each tournament, players of 15 different nationalities participated. The social events, the General Celebration, the celebrations of different countries, the celebration of the next headquarters and the Authorities dinner were held as always within the tournament agenda. 

 

The Maxibásquetbol Basketball Arena was exhibited, deciding on the venue for the first international event in 2025, and a display was held during the Authorities Dinner at the Provincial Hotel with, among others, the originals of the signatures of the FIMBA Constitutive Act on August 21, 1991, photos of the veteran participants of the first basketball Jamboree that created the first national Maxibasketball entity in the history. 12 Eduardo awards were presented in the different existing categories, including Fair Play, which is awarded jointly with the Panathlon International.

 

The Ordinary Assembly of FIMBA was held on August 30 with the presence of 37 representatives and 24 authorities from different countries, resolving seven points to be discussed, falling to the new Authorities of the entity for the term 2023-2027: Dr. Agustín Rodríguez Lamas, (Argentina), First Vice President: Tonci Vanjak (Croatia), Second Vice President: Osvaldo Pandolfo (Costa Rica), Secretary General, Franco Zullich (Argentina). 

 

During the Assembly the FIMBA Academy was appointed, made up of former presidents of World Championships, with the objective of promoting the philosophical statements of the international maxibasketball movement.

 

Before the end of the tournament, the venues for the year 2025 were presented. It will be held in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland, the cities of Bellinzona, Lugano and Locarno.  

 

In 2024, the Pan American Championships were held in the city of Mérida, Mexico, and the European Championships were held in the city of Pesaro, Italy. More than 400 teams participated in both tournaments and medals were distributed in 20 age categories. 

 

That year, the new FIMBA website was inaugurated with advances and modern esthetics. 

 

From April 12 to 21 was the Pan American Championship, held in the city of Yucatán, where the FIMBA Game was played. The companions and television viewers of the event, together with the European Championship in Italy, reached more than a million people. 

 

Players from 32 countries were present in both games, being the two most quantitative and important regional events in the history of basketball.

 

In June in the city of Agrigento, Sicily, Italy, Panathlon International signed a joint work agreement with FIMBA, within the framework of the Elective Congress.

 

At the end of that month, 208 teams and 3,150 male and female players participated. The venues for the 2026 Pan American Games were announced: the city of San Salvador, El Salvador, and Athens, Greece, the European Championship.

 

On August 21, 2024, FIMBA's 33rd anniversary was celebrated via Zoom and in the Secretariat offices, launching a promotional spot.

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The world-wide Maxibasketball interest and the way FIMBA works with the goal to promote, organize, develop, work up, manage and control the practice of Maxibasketball shows the great improvement made in the whole world and gives the opportunity to realize about the sport continuity in human life. Several countries ask to hold the famous WORLD MAXIBASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP and the Regional Events. Every two years a new city around the world has the opportunity to hold a World Tournament and every year a FIMBA tournament. Maxibasketball has broken the geographic borders. Even the mind borders have been broken with the sport continuity. That is why we have already understood FIMBA slogan: "Don’t add age to your life but life to your age" along with "Basketball non-stop".

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