Cork chosen to host 2018 Basketball’s Women’s European Championship championships

Finally, a bidding ‘war’ Ireland has emerged victorious from, with Cork profiting from the additional bounce of the ball.

Basketball’s Women’s European Championship for Small Countries will take place in UCC’s Mardyke Arena next summer, eight nations vieing over six days to succeed Malta as the best second tier nation in Europe. Ireland would be regarded as one of the favourites ever before yesterday’s confirmation it will host the 2018 event.

Basketball Ireland officials brought representatives from the European governing body, FIBA, to Cork recently to run the rule over the Mardyke and yesterday set the wheels in motion to have the facility primed from the June 26-July 1 event in 2018. Last year’s European U18 championships, which drew 23 nations to Dublin, provided the context for yesterday’s preparatory discussions with key Mardyke personnel.