FIBA Oceania secretary general to visit NMI

The board of the Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands is currently prepping for the visit of a high-ranking official of FIBA Oceania.

According to a statement released by BANMI yesterday, Steve Smith, who currently holds the position of secretary general of the Oceania Zone of the International Basketball Association, will arrive on June 21. He will be on island until the next day, June 22.

Smith, making his first trip to the Commonwealth, is the highest-ranking FIBA Oceania official ever to visit the NMI.

“He is certified as a referee, coach, and coach educator,” BANMI said. “His entire professional career has been devoted to the sport.”

Smith initially served as Zone Administrator before becoming deputy secretary general. He became secretary general in 1997, and since then, serves on the Central Board of the International Basketball Federation, the sports governing body.

BANMI explained that Smith hopes to meet with government officials and others “who contribute to and support the growth and development of basketball in the NMI.”

Meanwhile, BANMI president Miguel R. Muna welcomed the news of Smith’s visit.

“The BANMI board and I are looking forward to our meeting with Steve Smith,” Muna said. “We know that he has always been a strong supporter of our sport in the smaller countries and territories of the Pacific, as well as Australia and New Zealand, and we’re honored that he has included us in his plans.”

Muna added that Smith’s visit “will help us grow the sport in the CNMI.”

In other basketball news, the Pedro Ferrandiz Foundation will hold the V International Biennial of Basketball in Fine Arts from April to June 2006.

The competition, open to any artist of any nationality, features two categories—painting and sculpting—and the subject of all works must be basketball and all related aspects. Artists will have complete freedom of expression and style. Each artist is limited to just two entries, which much be submitted between January 2006 to the closing date of March 15, 2006.

Entries can be sent to V International Biennial of Basketball in the Fine Arts, Fundacion Pedro Ferrandiz, Edificio Borislav Stankovic, Avda. Olimpica, 22 (Arroyo de la Vega), 28108 Alcobendas Madrid-Spain.

A panel of experts will select the works submitted to participate in the exhibition on the basis of artistic merit and compliance with the conditions of entry.

All works must not exceed 2 X 1.5 meters and must be properly framed in wood. The frame must not be more than three centimeters wide.