Over the years, Puerto Rico has been the host of various events that has marked our history inside basketball history. The 1974 FIBA World Championship and the FIBA Americas Championships played in 1980, 1993, 1999 and 2003 have been events that have left their mark because of the success achieved and the contribution to sports in Puerto Rico and internationally.

Like everyone has read in the news, the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation made public their availability to present this event after the FIBA Americas Executive Committee decided to retire the tournament from Mexico. After a tough competition against Uruguay, FIBA Americas gave the tournament to us, accepting the difficult but not impossible task to present an event of this magnitude with just 60 days from celebrating it.

During these eleven days of competition, the ten best teams of our zone - Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Venezuela and of course, Panama, Puerto Rico - will give their best to get one of the four spots for the 2010 FIBA World Championship to be played in Turkey. Even though, the importance of this event is not only because it is a qualifier for the FIBA World Championship, but also millions of fans around the World can follow this event in this site and also in the media.

I want to thank all the personnel of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and also the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation for the trust deposited in me and the people that will work on this mission.

To all the members of the Organizing Committee and the collaborations in many areas, thanks for accepting and being part of this challenge. To our sponsors Puerto Rico Tourism Company, T-Mobile, Burger King, TUTV, Departamento de Recreación y Deportes de Puerto Rico, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Cerveza Presidente, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Lotería Electrónica de Puerto Rico

To all the great basketball fans in Puerto Rico, we invite you to write a new page in our history as a country and as a sports entity internationally. From August 26 to September 6, Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be the host of a high level event. To the fans of the different countries, I assure you that this event will have great emotions and tension but also great comradeship between teams and a high level competition.

Bienvenidos, Welcome, Bemvindo

Salvador Vilella
President
Local Organizing Committee
2009 FIBA Americas Championship