Armenia will host the C Division Championship of the European Under-16 Basketball for the first time.
03-07-2026 17:55 Armenia Sport
The European Championship for U16 basketball in the C division will take place in Yerevan from July 4-12, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia and in collaboration with the Armenian Basketball Federation and several partner organizations.
This is the first time Armenia is hosting a championship for this age group. The Armenian U16 national team is placed in Group B of the C division, where it will compete against the national teams of Gibraltar, Malta, Andorra, and Monaco.
Narine Shahbazyan, head of the sports policy department of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, emphasized at a press conference today that the state policy for the development of sports disciplines is enshrined in the development strategy for the physical culture and sports sectors of the Republic of Armenia for 2024-2030.
“Last year, the B division tournament of the European Championship for U20 was held in Yerevan. Such events contribute to the development of sports infrastructure, the accumulation of international experience, and the enhancement of Armenia's reputation as a host country for major competitions. We expect that the Armenian team will be able to rise to the B division. This will be a significant boost for the development of youth basketball, which is an important direction for us,” said Narine Shahbazyan, also highlighting the effective cooperation between the Armenian Basketball Federation and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.
According to her, the high trust shown by FIBA Europe towards Armenia, as well as the state-adopted policy, allows the country to continuously host international competitions. After the conclusion of the C division of the European Championship for U16, plans for the next summer will be discussed, including the possibility of hosting a European Championship for one of the women's age groups in Yerevan.
“It is very important for us that women's basketball also has the same development opportunities and progress, so work in that direction is also on the agenda,” said the head of the sports policy department of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.
According to Arthur Nazaryan, the Secretary General of the Armenian Basketball Federation, the successful experience of last year served as the basis for hosting the championship. He noted that prior to the championship, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports made necessary investments to improve the infrastructure of the Sports Management Center.
“The experience has shown that such events have a positive impact not only on the development of basketball but also on the country's economy, tourism, and Armenia's international reputation, so we are trying to maintain the established pace,” said Arthur Nazaryan.
He informed that the team includes several talented basketball players under the age of 16 from Armenia, the USA, and Russia. The coaching staff has been monitoring the candidates for a long time and selected the best.
“Last year, the U16 national team finished third in the C division of the European Championship and was very close to reaching the finals. This year we hope to perform better and compete for the championship, especially since we will be playing with the support of our own fans. This is a very important age phase, as the first official international experience for basketball players begins with the U16 national team,” Arthur Nazaryan presented, adding that a quite competitive team has been formed.
The Secretary General of the Federation also referred to the head coach of the team, Narek Kapushyan, who works in the USA and has extensive experience and successful results in youth basketball. He expressed confidence that Kapushyan's experience will also help the Armenian national team.
The press conference also addressed the popularization of the sport, emphasizing the “School Basketball League” tournament held under the patronage of the Prime Minister, which thousands of children participated in last year.
A total of 24 matches will be held as part of the C division of the European Championship. All games will take place at the sports complex operated by the Sports Management Center (address: Manandyan 41). Admission is free.
On July 4, Armenia's U16 team will compete against Andorra, on July 5 against Gibraltar, on July 8 against Malta, and on July 9 against Monaco's U16 team in the group stage. All games will start at 19:00. The final of the championship is scheduled for July 12.
Let us remind you that Armenia's U16 team has won the bronze medal in the European C division championship in the past two years.
Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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