On Tuesday, 29 March, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) provided Latvia the rights to host the finals of European Basketball Championship 2025.
The basketball championship of 2025 is scheduled to take place in September.
Since the introduction of a new format in 2015, four countries host European championships. Each country hosts games of one sub-group and one country hosts the finals.
Aside from Latvia, Cyprus, Finland and Ukraine will host sub-group games. The competition for medals will take place in Riga.
Hungary, Russia and Ukraine were initially Latvia’s competitors for the right to host the European finals. Hungary called off its candidacy. Russia’s candidacy was annulled following the start of aggression in Ukraine.
Latvia was the host of a European sports tournament in the past. It was in 1937. Eight teams took part. Lithuania, reinforced with countrymen from US won that time. Latvia was in 6th place.
In 2015 Latvia was the host of games of one of four sub-groups in another European championship.
The 41st European championship was supposed to take place last year, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the rescheduling of Tokyo Olympic Games to summer. This means the basketball tournament will be taking place 1st – 18 September 2022. The championship will be hosted by Czech Republic, Germany, Georgia and Italy. And the final games for medals will be hosted in Berlin.