Cyprus is gearing up to host the biggest sporting event in its history, Group C of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025, and is preparing for a massive international media presence with over 230 journalists and photographers already accredited to cover the tournament.
In statements to CNA the event's Media Manager, Erodotos Miltiadous, said that the significant media interest underscores the global scale of the competition. Of the accredited personnel, approximately 50 are Cypriot, while more than 180 are international, representing a diverse range of global organisations.
This large media contingent will broadcast the event to an estimated global audience of hundreds of millions. Miltiadous noted that the previous EuroBasket in 2022 reached over 300 million people, and he expects this year's viewership to be even higher. "This is the most important basketball tournament in the world this year," he stated. "Images of Limassol and Cyprus will be broadcast across the planet through our television partners," he added.
Preparations for the tournament, which will feature top-tier players from the NBA and Euroleague, are complete. "We are fully prepared," Miltiadous confirmed, citing a successful test event in August and seamless cooperation between all involved bodies, from airport authorities to security.
The on-court action promises to be intense, with Group C being dubbed the "group of death" by FIBA. It features basketball powerhouses Spain, Greece, and Italy, alongside host Cyprus, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The high anticipation is reflected in ticket sales, with key matchups like Greece vs. Spain already sold out.
The tournament not only puts Cyprus on the world map of sports but also leaves a lasting legacy. The investment in the "Spyros Kyprianou" arena has transformed it into a state-of-the-art venue capable of hosting major international events for decades to come. "We are very proud to be writing sporting history for Cyprus," Miltiadous concluded.
The match schedule is as follows:
Thursday, 28 August
15:00 · Georgia vs. Spain
18:15 · Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Cyprus
21:30 · Greece vs. Italy
Saturday, 30 August
15:00 · Italy vs. Georgia
18:15 · Cyprus vs. Greece
21:30 · Spain vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sunday, 31 August
15:00 · Georgia vs. Greece
18:15 · Spain vs. Cyprus
21:30 · Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy
Tuesday, 2 September
15:00 · Greece vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
18:15 · Cyprus vs. Georgia
21:30 · Italy vs. Spain
Thursday, 4 September
15:00 · Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Georgia
18:15 · Italy vs. Cyprus
21:30 · Spain vs. Greece
Each team will face the other teams in its group once, for a total of five matchdays per group. The top four teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
Cyprus is the smallest host country in the 90-year history of EuroBasket.
Group A, which will be held in Riga, Latvia, includes: Latvia, Serbia, Turkey, Estonia, Czechia, and Portugal.
Group B, which will take place in Tampere, Finland, includes: Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Lithuania, Montenegro, and Sweden.
Group D, which will be held in Katowice, Poland, includes: Poland, France, Slovenia, Israel, Iceland, and Belgium.
(Source: CNA)
