Following the restrictions that are being put into place in some European countries with regards to travel, quarantines, curfews, lockdowns and spectator prohibitions, Euroleague Basketball invited the Sports Directors from 11 domestic league competition organizers across the continent to a video conference in which all of them participated on Thursday to exchange the latest information between them.

Euroleague Basketball and domestic league sports directors meet

Following the restrictions that are being put into place in some European countries with regards to travel, quarantines, curfews, lockdowns and spectator prohibitions, Euroleague Basketball invited the Sports Directors from 11 domestic league competition organizers across the continent to a video conference in which all of them participated on Thursday to exchange the latest information between them.

The competition organizers who met with Euroleague Basketball Competition Department executives included those from the ABA, representing ex-Yugoslavia countries; ACB of Spain; BBL of Germany; BSL of Israel; BSL of Turkey (Turkish Basketball Federation); HEBA of Greece; LEGA of Italy; LKL of Lithuania; LNB of France; PBL of Belgium; and the UBL, representing ex-Union of Soviet Socialist Republic countries.

The objective of the meeting was to share and coordinate information amongst all the competition organizers who have teams participating in the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and/or the 7DAYS EuroCup with a view toward all parties being able to better plan the upcoming weeks and months, as well as improve the processes and protocols in place.

Euroleague Basketball did not share any alternative calendars nor alternative competition system proposals for the 2020-21 season.

During the meeting, Euroleague Basketball and each competition organizer shared the current situation in their market, the special regulations they are working under this season including triggers to suspend and reschedule games; the number of games suspended to date; the number of teams, players and referees reporting COVID-19 positive test results; short-term plans; dates that will be prioritized or avoided for rescheduled games; and government or public health authority restrictions if any are in place.

The attendees expressed a common interest in finishing the current season by assuring that all special regulations and protocols in place allow for that; by working in a collaborative environment as much as possible; and by making the protection of the health of all competition participants the primary objective. The health and safety protocols applied across the different competitions show common principles in the large majority of areas.

As more evidence of its continually expanding global footprint, Euroleague Basketball has announced a new deal to make Dafabet its premium sports betting partner in Asia during the 2020-21 season for both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup.

Dafabet becomes Euroleague Basketball partner in Asia

As more evidence of its continually expanding global footprint, Euroleague Basketball has announced a new deal to make Dafabet its premium sports betting partner in Asia during the 2020-21 season for both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup.

Dafabet, which has made a habit of investing in the most prestigious sports properties around the world, will be taking its first steps in basketball with the EuroLeague and the EuroCup. The partnership agreement includes the use of Euroleague Basketball intellectual property rights in Asia as well as brand integration in EuroLeague and EuroCup game broadcasts. Likewise, Dafabet will become a visible presence in digital and social media content for both competitions.

Its agreement with Dafabet comes on the heels of Euroleague Basketball making India-based BKT a premium partner, as well, showing that its competitions have vast appeal that knows no borders.

"We are extremely gratified that Dafabet is joining our family of partners and recognizes our ability to deliver a wide and diverse audience of devoted fans," Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball's President and CEO, said. "The fact that they and other partners are coming to us from well outside our traditional markets shows again that the passionate brand of basketball played in the EuroLeague and the EuroCup is attractive well beyond the countries where our teams play their games."

By coming together with Dafabet, Euroleague Basketball is joining a roster of prestigious sporting sponsorships associated with its new partner, including clubs of the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga and Scottish Premiership in soccer as well as some of the biggest names in snooker, cricket, boxing, mixed martial arts and motorsports.

"This agreement with Euroleague is our first step into basketball, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with a very professional organization," Dimitris Karatzas, CEO of Dafabet, said.

"We’re very proud to be partnering with Euroleague," John Cruces, Dafabet Head of Sponsorships, added. "Basketball is viewed worldwide and one of the most followed sports across all continents. By partnering with Euroleague Basketball, we believe it will help us increase our global footprint."

The ECA Shareholders Executive Board confirmed the modification of the Special Regulations that were originally approved by the clubs in September 2020, as proposed by Euroleague Basketball. The modification becomes applicable immediately to both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup, asserting their retroactive effect over the seven games that have been affected so far due to COVID-19 positive cases.

ECA Shareholders Executive Board approves modification of the Special Regulations due to COVID-19

The ECA Shareholders Executive Board confirmed the modification of the Special Regulations that were originally approved by the clubs in September 2020, as proposed by Euroleague Basketball. The modification becomes applicable immediately to both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup, asserting their retroactive effect over the seven games that have been affected so far due to COVID-19 positive cases.

The modified regulations will, in essence, mirror the original ones specifying the consequences of teams being prevented to play due to imposed local government travel restrictions. However, in cases where a team does not have eight players who are fit to play due to COVID-19, or the team must quarantine due to positive COVID-19 testing:

- The game can be rescheduled up to three times, if there are available dates.

- In case of no availability of dates or the maximum number of rescheduling’s being reached, the club that caused the original rescheduling will forfeit the game.

- No games will be rescheduled to be played after the following dates:

EuroCup Regular Reason (December 22, 2020)
EuroCup Top 16 (February 23, 2021)
EuroLeague Regular Season (April 13, 2021)
EuroLeague Playoffs (May 5, 2021)
The modified Special Regulations will have retroactive effect toward any decisions already applied regarding the 2020–21 season, allowing cancelled games to be rescheduled by the Euroleague Basketball CEO. The games affected to date by these modifications are:

- Turkish Airlines EuroLeague:

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (Regular Season, Round 3)
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (Regular Season, Round 4)
TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz - Zenit St. Petersburg (Regular Season, Round 3)
Valencia Basket - Zenit St. Petersburg (Regular Season, Round 4)
- 7DAYS EuroCup:

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana - Frutti Extra Bursaspor (Regular Season, Round 2)
Umana Reyer Venice-JL Bourg en Bresse (Regular Season, Round 3)
JL Bourg en Bresse – UNICS Kazan (Regular Season, Round 4)
The modifications of the Special Regulations include reflections shared by the EuroLeague Players Association and the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board.

In the board meeting, the clubs emphasized the need to remain flexible and react to any possible situation moving forward, while always respecting the overarching principles of protecting the health of individuals, preserving the regularity of the competition, and respecting its integrity and fairness.

The updated modifications of the Special Regulations will be included in the 2020-21 Bylaws and made public in the following days.

Clubs also agreed on reinforcing the monitoring of the Health & Safety Protocols and their execution by every team in conjunction with other relevant protocols in place, with the objective of improving them and sharing best practices amongst the 42 clubs across both competitions.

The Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Judge has declared that Zenit St. Petersburg loses by the result of zero to twenty (0-20) its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 3 and 4 games against TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and Valencia Basket, which were scheduled to be played on October 13 and 15, respectively.

Decision by Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Judge

The Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Judge has declared that Zenit St. Petersburg loses by the result of zero to twenty (0-20) its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 3 and 4 games against TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and Valencia Basket, which were scheduled to be played on October 13 and 15, respectively.

The Disciplinary Judge has followed the 2020–21 Euroleague Basketball Special Regulations due to COVID-19 after Zenit St. Petersburg didn't have at least eight players on the Authorisation List fit to play as a consequence of multiple players having tested positive for COVID-19.

Euroleague Basketball, the governing body for both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup competitions, decided on Wednesday, October 14, to propose a modification to Article 6 of the Special Regulations that were approved by the ECA Shareholders Executive Board clubs in September 2020. The article regulates the consequences of teams not having at least eight players fit to play in any given game due to COVID-19.

Euroleague Basketball Special Regulations due to COVID-19 proposed to be modified

Euroleague Basketball, the governing body for both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup competitions, decided on Wednesday, October 14, to propose a modification to Article 6 of the Special Regulations that were approved by the ECA Shareholders Executive Board clubs in September 2020. The article regulates the consequences of teams not having at least eight players fit to play in any given game due to COVID-19.

The rule established that “If one or more players/coaching staff/team followers of a club test positive for COVID-19, the game will take place as scheduled unless the national or local authorities of one or both clubs involved or of the place where the game will be held (in case of a neutral country) require a large group of players or the entire team to go into quarantine. If at least eight players on the Authorisation List are fit to play, the game must go ahead on the scheduled date and location. The club that cannot play the game will be held responsible for the game not taking place and the Disciplinary Judge will declare that its team loses by the result of zero to twenty (0-20) and, when applicable, the playoff series. A recidivism originated from or due to positive tests in a team will not entail the disqualification from the competition.

If the national or local authorities of one or both clubs involved or of the place where the game will be held (in case of a neutral country) prevent a team from participating in a game, despite having at least eight players on the Authorisation List fit to play, the Disciplinary Judge will declare that this team loses by the result of zero to twenty (0-20) and, when applicable, the playoff series.”

Despite the fact that 90% of the games in both competitions will have been played as scheduled, given recent developments and to protect the clubs as well as the integrity of the competition, Euroleague Basketball will propose a modification of this article to the ECA Shareholders Executive Board and EuroCup Board, aligning the consequences of such a situation to those of games that are prevented from being played due to travel restrictions imposed by local or national authorities.

As a result, teams unable to count on at least eight players to play a game due to COVID-19 positives, would see the relevant game(s) suspended and rescheduled to a later date. Existing rules (maximum of three reschedules for any given game, deadlines to reschedule games, etc.) will mirror those applied to travel restriction situations.

If approved, the modification will apply retroactively to those games that have not been played to date due to this reason, and empower the Euroleague Basketball CEO to reschedule the six games that have not been played to a future date.

Additionally, Euroleague Basketball will review the protocols in place by affected teams, including Domestic Leagues’, local authorities, teams’ internal protocols, etc. Best practices of other EuroLeague and EuroCup teams will be shared to help all teams maximize their health & safety.

Jordi Bertomeu, President & CEO of Euroleague Basketball said:

“Back in September we all expected to face numerous travel restrictions this season. Until now between the league, the clubs, and different governments, we have been able to navigate all of these successfully. Meanwhile the COVID-19 positives cases may or may not be a transitory concern, but in any case, we knew that this would need to be reviewed during the course of the season and must anticipate as much as possible every potential situation. We must continue to be flexible and find solutions, as agreed with the clubs when they approved the Special Regulations due to COVID-19.

We all acknowledged that 2020-21 will be a special and strange season in many senses, and that we would need to adapt. In addition to the change of this specific article in the Special Regulations, we will continue to monitor the others whilst updating the Health & Safety Protocols to ensure they collectively protect the health of all individuals, the integrity of the competition and its regularity.”

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 3 & 4 games between TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Zenit St Petersburg and Valencia Basket vs. Zenit St Petersburg that were scheduled to be played on Tuesday, October 13 and Thursday, October 15 respectively will not take place. Multiple players of Zenit St Petersburg have tested positive for COVID-19, with the team not having at least eight players on the Authorisation List fit to play.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Rounds 3 & 4 Zenit St Petersburg's games will not take place

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 3 & 4 games between TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Zenit St Petersburg and Valencia Basket vs. Zenit St Petersburg that were scheduled to be played on Tuesday, October 13 and Thursday, October 15 respectively will not take place. Multiple players of Zenit St Petersburg have tested positive for COVID-19, with the team not having at least eight players on the Authorisation List fit to play.

A procedure has been opened that will be evaluated by the Disciplinary Judge who will take a decision in due course in accordance with the 2020–21 Euroleague Basketball Special Regulations due to COVID-19.

After a successful first two years together, Euroleague Basketball and Siesta have agreed to extend their relationship into the new 2020-21 season, assuring that this market leader in the business-to-business furniture sector continues as an Official Partner of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

Euroleague Basketball, Siesta renew official partnership

After a successful first two years together, Euroleague Basketball and Siesta have agreed to extend their relationship into the new 2020-21 season, assuring that this market leader in the business-to-business furniture sector continues as an Official Partner of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

Siesta, which exports 80% of its product, has global impact in outdoor furniture in the same way that the EuroLeague inspires devotion in fans all over the world. The first two seasons of the partnership, during which Siesta's products became available in an additional 25 countries, resulted in the kind of top-level exposure and visibility that made the contract renewal a slam dunk for both parties.

Through its own, first-hand experience, Siesta saw how Euroleague Basketball's global partnership platform offers companies with business in many countries the perfect toolkit to strengthen brand awareness and engage with customers.

"To have Siesta continue growing alongside us in the current economic climate speaks volumes about our commitment to each other," Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO, said. "Siesta's vast international sales and its business-to-business focus prove that the positive values and performance excellence that the EuroLeague embodies are clear selling points to clients and customers everywhere."

As part of the ongoing agreement, Siesta uses EuroLeague stars in digital campaigns to highlight the great design and innovation of its outdoor furniture products. Identifying its products with the quality of the EuroLeague game is a perfect match for two organizations who hold the needs of their global fans and customers firmly in mind at all times.

"As always, we are pleased and happy to be a part of Euroleague Basketball in the 2020-21 season, as we have been for the previous two," Tuncay Işildar, President of Siesta, said. "Siesta is active in more than 100 countries with 500 stores. Although all of us have gone through hard days this year because of COVID-19, we are happy and excited with the new basketball season. Siesta is supporting all teams, taking part in the Game of the Week, Playoffs, Final Four and all the global communication platforms. We can't wait to enjoy a great EuroLeague season together."

India-based giant in off-highway tires to sponsor EuroLeague and EuroCup for through 2023
The group of industry leaders who trust in Euroleague Basketball's ability to boost their brands just got bigger.

BKT, one of the world's leading manufacturers of off-highway tires, is the newest Euroleague Basketball Premium Partner whose presence will be felt immediately in the two most prestigious club competitions on the continent, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup.

BKT becomes Euroleague Basketball Premium Partner

### India-based giant in off-highway tires to sponsor EuroLeague and EuroCup for through 2023

The group of industry leaders who trust in Euroleague Basketball's ability to boost their brands just got bigger.

BKT, one of the world's leading manufacturers of off-highway tires, is the newest Euroleague Basketball Premium Partner whose presence will be felt immediately in the two most prestigious club competitions on the continent, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup.

The agreement between Euroleague Basketball and BKT, whose negotiation was assisted by DAO SpA, a leading sport marketing consultancy, will cover the next three years until the end of the 2022-23 season. The BKT brand will be visible from the first games of the 2020-21 season in both competitions.

The EuroLeague and the EuroCup become BKT's first investments in basketball, expanding on the Indian company's experience with premium team sports leagues in order to widen its brand awareness and connect to the positive values and emotions that Euroleague Basketball offers.

"We welcome BKT to our family and wholeheartedly share their motto, Growing Together, because that's exactly what we strive to do with all of our partners," Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO, said. "BKT's tires are famous for durability, reliability, precision and high performance, qualities that we see our players and clubs demonstrate every week on the basketball court."

The Premium Partnership will enable BKT to promote its brand through various touchpoints inside all arenas where EuroLeague and EuroCup games are played. BKT brand will be visible through LED systems, Jumbotrons and onsite activations, as well as on television with TV graphics, headers and pre- and post-game interview backdrops. BKT will also be present on EuroLeague and EuroCup digital and social media.

"The common values between BKT and sports are the main drivers of our investments: passion, challenge, fair play and the support to young talents," Lucia Salmaso, CEO of BKT Europe, said. "Basketball fans are extremely loyal and passionate. We are proud to join the basketball world with such a prestigious partnership."

With sustained growth across all industry indicators – including a broadcast and digital audience of 3 billion viewers worldwide and a year-on-year average increase of 15% in fan interest in all its markets, according to Nielsen Sports – Euroleague Basketball competitions are seen by global and regional brands as a powerful engagement platform for existing consumers and a springboard toward new ones. Such growth combined with enhanced services and engagement through bespoke account management explains why Euroleague Basketball partners, whose ranks increase in size and diversity each season, renew their agreements consistently and now average now eight years of tenure as a group. With its global reach into 160 countries, BKT fits perfectly with the pan-European spectrum of Euroleague Basketball, whose general growth has been highlighted by strong performances in strategic Western and Central European markets like Spain, France, Germany and Italy.”

Following the work conducted by Euroleague Basketball in consultation with team doctors, medical experts, club executives, and other leading sports properties, and following discussions held among EuroCup and ECA Board representatives, new Health & Safety Protocols and Special Regulations for the 2020-21 season in both the 7DAYS EuroCup and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague have been approved.

Health & Safety Protocols and Special Regulations for 2020-21 season announced

Following the work conducted by Euroleague Basketball in consultation with team doctors, medical experts, club executives, and other leading sports properties, and following discussions held among EuroCup and ECA Board representatives, new Health & Safety Protocols and Special Regulations for the 2020-21 season in both the 7DAYS EuroCup and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague have been approved.

The Health & Safety Protocols, which aim at providing competition participants and all other stakeholders with minimum standards to be applied in every EuroLeague and EuroCup game, establishes conditions to protect every individual’s health as well as that of their families’ under the current COVID-19 environment. The protocols have been developed in coordination with league and club doctors, consulted with all 42 clubs, the EuroLeague Players Association, the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials, Domestic Leagues and ULEB. They have been constructed to reflect the experience gained by other major international and domestic sports competition organizers. The details, among others, include:

- Basic hygiene rules of conduct: hands washing, social distancing, face mask usage and ventilation.

- Arena and practice facility guidelines establishing a maximum number of individuals in the playing court and locker room areas.

- Appointment of a COVID-19 manager in each club, educational sessions, recommended daily health monitoring, medical assessment forms.

- Players, coaching staff and referees to perform a PCR test three days ahead of every game, with protocols to follow in the case of a positive PCR test result.- Guidelines for hotels, transportation, referees, TV production, media and spectators.

The Health & Safety Protocols document is fluid and will be regularly reviewed and adapted to any potential evolution of the current situation. The document can be accessed here.

The Special Regulations are set to maintain the regularity of the competitions as much as possible in order to deliver on the commitments to fans and commercial partners, and to protect all clubs by establishing a clear and equal framework to be applied to all of them in the special circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their content is the result of continuous communication and alignment of standards with other major European sports competition organizers. The Special Regulations, to be included in the 2020-21 competition bylaws, include, among others:

. Games that are precluded from taking place as scheduled due to new or existing restrictions being imposed on home or visiting clubs by their domestic authorities will be suspended and rescheduled. In such cases, the game may be relocated to an alternative venue, if necessary.

. Any particular game may be suspended a maximum of three times.

. All Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season games must have been played by 13 April 2021 and all Playoff games must be played by 5 May 2021

. All 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season games must have been played by 22 December 2020, and all Top16 games must be played by 23 February 2021

. Euroleague Basketball will cooperate with the home club to relocate any games to a suitable alternative arena that has been previously approved for the EuroLeague or EuroCup competition.

. In the event that no dates are available to reschedule a game, or that the maximum number of reschedules has been reached, the team whose national or local restrictions originated the relocation/rescheduling of the game will forfeit the game by the result of zero to twenty (0-20). Repeated 0-20 losses due to this situation would not lead to the disqualification of the team.

. In the event that any team has less than eight players fit to play due to COVID-19, said team will lose the game 0-20. Repeated 0-20 losses due to this situation would not entail the disqualification of the team.

. Any club refusing to play without any official national or local restrictions being in place (without any justified cause) will register a 0-20 loss on the first occasion, and the disqualification from the competition on the second, as per existing competition regulations. A 0-20 loss occurring during the EuroCup Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals, or during the EuroLeague Playoffs would entail the loss of the series by the relevant team.

. In the event of a season suspension, the provisional standings in place when the suspension occurred may be considered final either to resume the competition or for teams to progress to a potential next phase. If necessary, teams will play any remaining/postponed games to ensure number of games played is balanced among all teams in the same group

The Company will keep an updated list of existing authorities’ restrictions and approved available arenas at the disposal of all clubs, based on the information provided by these.