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Commissions and Councils /
Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov took part in the opening ceremony of the International Student Basketball League’s Stars’ Competition.
The International Student Basketball League was founded in September 2012 and brings together universities from Russia and neighbouring countries. Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Estonia each selected twelve of their best players to take part in the competition.
Mr Ivanov announced that the next round in the competition will take place in May on Red Square.
The International Student League marks a new stage in student basketball associations. Mr Ivanov said that university sport is only now starting to revive. The Russian Student Basketball Association was set up five years ago and now unites 793 teams from 69 different Russian regions.
Mr Ivanov described this latest competition as setting a new level, saying that, having matured at home, Russian student basketball is now moving to the international level.
The Chief of Staff said he hopes to see university sport in Russia develop a solid fan base over the next 10–15 years. Russia needs to develop its basketball league and attract not only the students, but the fans too, he said.
January 26, 2013, Moscow