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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The professional basketball organizing bodies of <a href="/facts/Lega_Basket/BvwesWIj">Italy</a>, <a href="/facts/Ligue_Nationale_de_Basket/vkJ47eGP">France</a> and <a href="/facts/Asociaci%25C3%25B3n_de_Clubs_de_Baloncesto/pvGR4qQ3">Spain</a> established the ULEB on June 25, 1991 in <a href="/facts/Rome/bh1Ttx3T">Rome</a>, Italy. In November 1992, a joint <a href="/facts/ULEB_All-Star_Game/jCJ785ql">All-Star weekend</a> was held in <a href="/facts/Madrid/B63nL2DB">Madrid</a>, Spain, featuring the most outstanding players from the <a href="/facts/Liga_ACB/SY8cUIYx">Spanish</a> and <a href="/facts/Lega_Basket_Serie_A/BvwesWIj">Italian</a> Leagues. The experience was repeated one year later in Rome before a crowd of 10.500 fans. In 1994, the <a href="/facts/LNB_Pro_A/bSxSGmIo">French League</a> joined the event and the All Star weekend moved to <a href="/facts/Valencia/D9L6z2HB">Valencia</a>, Spain, with <a href="/facts/Lega_Basket_Serie_A/BvwesWIj">Italian</a>, <a href="/facts/Liga_ACB/SY8cUIYx">Spanish</a> and <a href="/facts/LNB_Pro_A/bSxSGmIo">French</a> stars competing and showing their skills.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Greek_Basket_League/XB72jaL8">Greek League</a> was the first to join the three founders in 1996. The ULEB has had three Presidents since its inception: <a href="/facts/Gianluigi_Porelli/d1h5W9Iz">Gianluigi Porelli</a> (since September 1991 until March 1998), <a href="/facts/Eduardo_Portela/VzBhUBa9">Eduardo Portela</a>, (since March 18, 1998 until October 6, 2016) and <a href="/facts/Tomas_Van_Den_Spiegel/pBEe43FJ">Tomas Van Den Spiegel</a>, elected October 6, 2016. In December 1999, the Union welcomed the <a href="/facts/British_Basketball_League/JDv9Cd2Q">British</a>, <a href="/facts/Basketball_League_Belgium_Division_I/KEfH0vEC">Belgian</a> and <a href="/facts/Championnat_LNA/fH2jbHay">Swiss</a> Leagues.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>A key date in ULEB and European basketball history was Friday June 9, 2000. That day, the most important clubs in Europe and the ULEB leagues, met in <a href="/facts/Sitges/1umxnpDf">Sitges</a>, and decided to create and manage a new competition, the <a href="/facts/EuroLeague/Y7CWaYB0">EuroLeague</a>. Until that moment, it had been <a href="/facts/FIBA_Europe/TTU6Lj0N">FIBA</a> that ran the men's top basketball clubs competition in Europe. The first game of the new <a href="/facts/EuroLeague/Y7CWaYB0">EuroLeague</a>, <a href="/facts/Real_Madrid_Baloncesto/Ek0sAJxd">Real Madrid</a> vs. <a href="/facts/Olympiacos_B.C./k7qfr5LR">Olympiacos</a>, was played on October 16, 2000 in <a href="/facts/Madrid/B63nL2DB">Madrid</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>One year later, in October 2001, the ULEB was expanded with the leagues of <a href="/facts/Basketball_Bundesliga/I6ozxP7j">Germany</a>, <a href="/facts/Dutch_Basketball_League/fwNVCCaQ">Netherlands</a> and <a href="/facts/Polish_Basketball_League/jl3rvnwM">Poland</a>. In October 2002, the <a href="/facts/EuroCup_Basketball/DmUvuPPv">ULEB Cup</a>, the second-tier level European club competition, was born. Its first game was played in <a href="/facts/Istanbul/Xo1hzGWH">Istanbul</a>, on October 15, 2002, between <a href="/facts/Dar%25C3%25BC%25C5%259F%25C5%259Fafaka_S.K./8zbvawkm">Darüşşafaka</a> and <a href="/facts/KK_Krka/dx6uNuqs">Novo Mesto</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>In June 2003, the league of <a href="/facts/Lietuvos_krep%25C5%25A1inio_lyga/eIlwIoxe">Lithuania</a> joined, and one year later, in July 2005, the union was expanded with the league of <a href="/facts/Israeli_Basketball_Premier_League/hHKJ8fcK">Israel</a>. The most recent addition to the ULEB family is the Russian <a href="/facts/VTB_United_League/bufK6DpG">VTB United League</a>, which was granted admission in July 2014, replacing its predecessor, the <a href="/facts/Russian_Professional_Basketball_League/6KcGaqjM">PBL</a> (which had been admitted in May 2011). So, the ULEB currently represents a total number of 10 professional basketball leagues from across Europe. Other leagues such as <a href="/facts/Liga_Portuguesa_de_Basquetebol/xnT8JS42">Portugal</a>, <a href="/facts/ABA_League/2buMrUjQ">Adriatic</a>, <a href="/facts/%25C3%2596sterreichische_Basketball_Bundesliga/HBLYQ2N5">Austria</a>, <a href="/facts/Championnat_LNA/fH2jbHay">Switzerland</a> and the <a href="/facts/National_Basketball_League_(Czech_Republic)/9scJEtYu">Czech Republic</a>, have been also members of the ULEB in the past, but all of them left the Union for different reasons. The <a href="/facts/Liga_Portuguesa_de_Basquetebol/xnT8JS42">Portuguese</a> and <a href="/facts/Championnat_LNA/fH2jbHay">Swiss</a> leagues have ceased memberships, the <a href="/facts/ABA_League/2buMrUjQ">Adriatic</a> lost recognition from <a href="/facts/FIBA_Europe/TTU6Lj0N">FIBA Europe</a>, and the <a href="/facts/%25C3%2596sterreichische_Basketball_Bundesliga/HBLYQ2N5">Austrian</a>, <a href="/facts/British_Basketball_League/JDv9Cd2Q">British</a> and <a href="/facts/National_Basketball_League_(Czech_Republic)/9scJEtYu">Czech</a> leagues voluntarily renounced their membership.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>ULEB is currently a shareholder of <a href="/facts/Euroleague_Basketball/SHKdL3W6">Euroleague Commercial Assets</a> (ECA) through <a href="/facts/Euroleague_Basketball/SHKdL3W6">Euroleague Basketball SL</a>, and is also a shareholder of <a href="/facts/Basketball_Champions_League/5TLAjwTP">Basketball Champions League SA</a>. As written above, former Belgian player <a href="/facts/Tomas_Van_Den_Spiegel/pBEe43FJ">Tomas Van Den Spiegel</a> is the current President of the ULEB, and <a href="/facts/Greek_Basket_League/XB72jaL8">Greek League</a> President Vangelis Galatsopoulos is the current Vice President. The current Executive Committee of the Union is completed by the leagues of <a href="/facts/Basketball_League_Belgium_Division_I/KEfH0vEC">Belgium</a>, <a href="/facts/LNB_Pro_A/bSxSGmIo">France</a>, <a href="/facts/Basketball_Bundesliga/I6ozxP7j">Germany</a> and <a href="/facts/Liga_ACB/SY8cUIYx">Spain</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="members">Members</h2> <p><i>Members of ULEB in 2022</i>:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h3>Current</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Country</th><th>Organisation</th><th>Affiliation</th><th>Competitions</th></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Belgium/YKuMXP5j">Belgium</a> <a href="/facts/Netherlands/y8xn5stT">Netherlands</a></td><td><a href="/facts/BNXT_League/x1gqMPe3">BNXT League</a></td><td>2021</td><td><a href="/facts/BNXT_League/x1gqMPe3">BNXT League</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Ligue_Nationale_de_Basket/vkJ47eGP">Ligue Nationale de Basket</a></td><td>1991</td><td><a href="/facts/LNB_Pro_A/bSxSGmIo">Pro A</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Finland/G5Ak6T91">Finland</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Korisliiga/Xd3ugBYb">Korisliiga</a></td><td>2022</td><td><a href="/facts/Korisliiga/Xd3ugBYb">Korisliiga</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">Germany</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Basketball_Bundesliga_GmbH/dJ5zcYLy">Basketball Bundesliga GmbH</a></td><td>2001</td><td><a href="/facts/Basketball_Bundesliga/I6ozxP7j">BBL</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Greece/lqHw8bTB">Greece</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Hellenic_Basketball_Association/6fF7EPQ2">Hellenic Basketball Association</a></td><td>1996</td><td><a href="/facts/Greek_Basketball_League/XB72jaL8">Basketball League</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Israel/dEe3IcaY">Israel</a></td><td>Israeli Basketball Premier League Administration Ltd</td><td>2005</td><td><a href="/facts/Israeli_Basketball_Premier_League/hHKJ8fcK">Ligat HaAl</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF">Italy</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Lega_Basket/BvwesWIj">Lega Basket</a></td><td>1991</td><td><a href="/facts/Lega_Basket_Serie_A/BvwesWIj">LBA</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Lithuania/dApVjLWW">Lithuania</a></td><td>Lietuvos krepšinio asosiacija</td><td>2003</td><td><a href="/facts/Lietuvos_krep%25C5%25A1inio_lyga/eIlwIoxe">LKL</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Poland/eXJ7fd0D">Poland</a></td><td>Polska Liga Koszykówki S.A.</td><td>2001</td><td><a href="/facts/Polish_Basketball_League/jl3rvnwM">Basket Liga</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a> <a href="/facts/Kazakhstan/Vfs8NI6e">Kazakhstan</a> <a href="/facts/Belarus/vweHwgob">Belarus</a></td><td><a href="/facts/VTB_United_League/bufK6DpG">VTB United League</a></td><td>2014</td><td><a href="/facts/VTB_United_League/bufK6DpG">VTB United League</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Spain/bIyrB8EY">Spain</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Asociaci%25C3%25B3n_de_Clubs_de_Baloncesto/pvGR4qQ3">Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto</a></td><td>1991</td><td><a href="/facts/Liga_ACB/SY8cUIYx">Liga ACB</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Switzerland/LcGuxeTe">Switzerland</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Swiss_Basketball_League/fH2jbHay">Swiss Basketball League</a></td><td>2022</td><td><a href="/facts/Swiss_Basketball_League/fH2jbHay">SBL Men</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Former</h3> <p>Former ULEB members:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Country</th><th>Organiser</th><th>Affiliation years</th><th>Reasons of surrender</th></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Austria/4qWIMIyc">Austria</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Basketball_Austria/9UufhDv3">Basketball Austria</a></td><td>2002-2015</td><td>withdrew</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina/jNVA1gPB">Bosnia and Herzegovina</a> <a href="/facts/Croatia/MSS0yyvw">Croatia</a> <a href="/facts/North_Macedonia/YpfcC5DA">North Macedonia</a> <a href="/facts/Montenegro/QynKJrw5">Montenegro</a> <a href="/facts/Serbia/U0LVzPdI">Serbia</a> <a href="/facts/Slovenia/EcYU22W4">Slovenia</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Adriatic_Basketball_Association/lYruRQjn">Adriatic Basketball Association</a></td><td>2002-2015</td><td>lost recognition from <a href="/facts/FIBA_Europe/TTU6Lj0N">FIBA Europe</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Belgium/YKuMXP5j">Belgium</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Pro_Basketball_League/KEfH0vEC">Pro Basketball League</a></td><td>1999-2021</td><td>replaced by <a href="/facts/BNXT_League/x1gqMPe3">BNXT League</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Czech_Republic/vJYLD66Q">Czech Republic</a></td><td><a href="/facts/National_Basketball_League_(Czech_Republic)/9scJEtYu">National Basketball League (Czech Republic)</a></td><td>2004-2016</td><td>withdrew</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Netherlands/y8xn5stT">Netherlands</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Dutch_Basketball_League/fwNVCCaQ">Dutch Basketball League</a></td><td>1999-2021</td><td>replaced by <a href="/facts/BNXT_League/x1gqMPe3">BNXT League</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Portugal/lYzwDQ63">Portugal</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Liga_Portuguesa_de_Basquetebol/xnT8JS42">Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol</a></td><td>1996-2008</td><td>ceased membership</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Russian_Professional_Basketball_League/6KcGaqjM">Russian Professional Basketball League</a></td><td>2011-2013</td><td>replace by <a href="/facts/VTB_United_League/bufK6DpG">VTB United League</a></td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2">United Kingdom</a></td><td><a href="/facts/British_Basketball_League/JDv9Cd2Q">British Basketball League</a></td><td>1999-2016</td><td>withdrew</td></tr><tr><td> <a href="/facts/Switzerland/LcGuxeTe">Switzerland</a></td><td>Ligue Nationale de Basket Amateur</td><td>1999-2016</td><td>ceased membership in 2016 and replaced in 2022 by <a href="/facts/Swiss_Basketball_League/fH2jbHay">Swiss Basketball League</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="presidents">Presidents</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF"></a> <a href="/facts/Gianluigi_Porelli/d1h5W9Iz">Gianluigi Porelli</a> 1991-1998</li> <li><a href="/facts/Spain/bIyrB8EY"></a> <a href="/facts/Eduardo_Portela/VzBhUBa9">Eduardo Portela</a> 1998-2016</li> <li><a href="/facts/Belgium/YKuMXP5j"></a> <a href="/facts/Thomas_Van_Den_Spiegel/pBEe43FJ">Thomas Van Den Spiegel</a> 2016-</li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/ULEB_All-Star_Game/jCJ785ql">ULEB All-Star Game</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/European_professional_club_basketball_system/41RXSM1H">European professional club basketball system</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Historical_European_national_basketball_league_rankings/NHlbhouY">Historical European national basketball league rankings</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/European_Professional_Football_Leagues/sxMhuIQq">European Professional Football Leagues</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.uleb.com/">ULEB official website</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>REPORT on the future of professional sport in Europe / Governance / 13. European Parliament. Archived 3 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A6-2007-0036+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN" target="_blank">http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A6-2007-0036+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Directory". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208022317/http://uleb.com/director1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208022317/http://uleb.com/director1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"ULEB History". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"ULEB History". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"ULEB History". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"ULEB History". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"ULEB History". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"ULEB History". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Directory". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208022317/http://uleb.com/director1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208022317/http://uleb.com/director1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"ULEB History". ULEB. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131208025122/http://uleb.com/history1.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>