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 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.

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.

• Clubs discussed special regulations for potential exceptional situations
• New Euroleague Basketball Health & Safety Protocols to be applied in both competitions
The EuroCup Board and the Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) Shareholders Executive Board met remotely on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, to review and discuss key regulations and protocols that will be in place across the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup competitions as they start on 1 October and 29 September, respectively. The agenda for both meetings included two central topics, the Euroleague Basketball Health & Safety Protocols as well as Special Regulations Due to COVID-19.

ECA and EuroCup Boards meet to plan for the 2020-21 season

### • Clubs discussed special regulations for potential exceptional situations
### 
### • New Euroleague Basketball Health & Safety Protocols to be applied in both competitions

The EuroCup Board and the Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) Shareholders Executive Board met remotely on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, to review and discuss key regulations and protocols that will be in place across the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup competitions as they start on 1 October and 29 September, respectively. The agenda for both meetings included two central topics, the Euroleague Basketball Health & Safety Protocols as well as Special Regulations Due to COVID-19.

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, developed in coordination with league & 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, has been constructed including the experience gained by other major international and domestic sports competition organizers, and details among other topics:

- 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 case of a positive PCR test result

- Guidelines for hotels, transportation, referees, TV production, media, spectators

The Protocols, once approved, are a vivid and fluid document and will be regularly reviewed and adapted to any potential evolution of the current situation.

The Special Regulations are set to maintain the regularity of the competitions as much as possible to deliver on the commitments with fans and commercial partners, and to protect all clubs in competition, establishing a clear and equal framework to be applied to all clubs in 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 competitions organizers including UEFA. The Special Regulations include, amongst others:

- Rules around potential suspension, relocation and rescheduling of games in the event of restrictions being imposed by domestic authorities that prevent any games from being played

- Definition of roles and responsibilities in the event that games are being relocated

- Establishing end dates by which all games of the different phases of each competition must have been played

Euroleague Basketball is continuously monitoring border and quarantine restrictions in place and updating all clubs regularly.

Updated versions of the Health & Safety Protocols and Special Regulations including the agreed modifications will be circulated to the ECA Shareholders Executive Board members for approval.

Euroleague Basketball and Lithuania’s national broadcaster LRT are pleased to announce that Lithuania's premiere open TV network has acquired the rights to air Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games for the next three seasons. The deal with LRT means the games move from a pay-only tv model to a mixed public and pay-tv model, thus growing the potential audience for Europe's top basketball competitions in the country.

LRT becomes Euroleague Basketball's new home in Lithuania

Euroleague Basketball and Lithuania’s national broadcaster LRT are pleased to announce that Lithuania's premiere open TV network has acquired the rights to air Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games for the next three seasons. The deal with LRT means the games move from a pay-only tv model to a mixed public and pay-tv model, thus growing the potential audience for Europe's top basketball competitions in the country.

LRT will broadcast every Zalgiris Kaunas game in the EuroLeague and each Lietkabelis Panevezys game in the EuroCup. Moreover, the deal allows LRT to show one additional game per playoff round as well as all games from the EuroLeague Final Four. Likewise, LRT will have the rights to show an additional game from both the EuroCup Quarterfinals and EuroCup Semifinals.

"I would like to thank LRT for their support. We are extremely satisfied with this new agreement, which will bring both of our competitions, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup, to all Lithuanian citizens," Mr. Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO, stated. "LRT bringing the best basketball on the continent to an open TV network in such a devoted market is key to making our popularity in Lithuania grow even more."

"LRT TELEVISION is broadcasted in all Lithuania’s territory, therefore all basketball fans in Lithuania will have the opportunity to watch games of BC Zalgiris and Lietkabelis Panevezys live and free of charge. Two decades ago LRT had exclusive rights to broadcast Zalgiris games in various European basketball tournaments, so we are all very pleased that the most popular sport in Lithuania will be again on LRT with the two top pan- European competitions, the EuroLeague and the EuroCup", – comments LRT Deputy Director General Gytis Oganauskas.

LRT's television network was launched back in 1957. LRT media group is owned by the public and its operations are funded by taxpayers. Therefore, its fundamental mission is to serve the public interest, which in such a passionate, basketball-loving country makes the decision to broadcast EuroLeague and EuroCup games a slam dunk!

Euroleague Basketball officials set to work on the upcoming 2020-21 season this weekend with their own virtual training camp, a comprehensive, four-day agenda of activities designed to offer the best game experience possible to both fans and participants of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup.

29th Clinic for Euroleague Basketball Officials sets sights on new season

Euroleague Basketball officials set to work on the upcoming 2020-21 season this weekend with their own virtual training camp, a comprehensive, four-day agenda of activities designed to offer the best game experience possible to both fans and participants of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup.

The 29th Clinic for Euroleague Basketball Officials covered, through on-line meetings, discussions and seminars, everything that in-person preparation events for new seasons have included in the past – and more.

A total of 70 referees and 16 referee coaches attended the clinic, which lasted from mid-afternoon Thursday until Sunday night. Six new referees were welcomed to the Euroleague Basketball refereeing collective during the weekend. They are: Benjamin Barth, Gentian Cici, Huseyin Celik, Luka Kardum, Kristaps Konstantinovs and Stanislav Valeev.

"As always, the focus was clearly on enhancing the application of the rules and our understanding of them with the coaches and players in order to make our game better for fans," said Richard Stokes, Euroleague Basketball Senior Director, Officiating. "We missed being in the same place to reacquaint ourselves and introduce our new referees in person, but our work agenda was as full as ever to ensure that, even at a distance, we have all angles covered for the new season."

Among the special guests was Ioannis Sfairopoulos of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, who gave the referees the all-important perspective of head coaches on Euroleague Basketball officiating for the new season.

"It was nice to be able to share the view of officiating through the coaches' eyes," Coach Sfairopoulos said. "I believe that we have the best group of referees possible, just as we have the best players and coaches in Europe. For us to exchange views and ideas, and to work together to find the right way to work, will only help the development of officiating and the working relationship that is required. These meetings set a solid foundation for the season ahead."

A review of officiating statistics and feedback from the 2019-20 season gave way to a number of points of emphasis that the referees will be applying in the season ahead, focusing on the shift to the perimeter game, accuracy of play-calling and on-court communication. Interspersed in the agenda throughout the weekend were discussions of specific plays and scenarios, as well as instant replay protocols coming from the previous season. Sports sciences experts addressed the referees on the subjects of their physical preparation and nutrition. In addition, sports psychologist Mar Rovira spoke over two days about dealing with feedback and mental mapping in the dynamic setting of a live basketball game for both referees and referee coaches.

"We focused on learning strategies to deliver and receive powerful feedback, working with referee coaches one day and with the refereeing crew the next," Rovira said. "The other big content we worked on was dealing with pressure and giving strategies to stay focused during the game. It is remarkable the importance that the officiating department is giving to the referees' mental preparation. Working on their mental side will definitely help increase the level of the game."

As every year, the clinic ultimately served to propel the continual learning among referees that contributes fundamentally to the constant improvement of the basketball experience for fans of Euroleague Basketball competitions.

"We had a very productive few days to get ready for next season," veteran referee Olegs Latisevs said. "The level of communication and the interaction between the participants during the clinic was on a highly professional level, and this was a key to the success and value of our work. Mar Rovira's sessions were amazing, giving us the theory behind what we had been doing intuitively before. Now we know that we are working on the right track about communication and education. Learning about the coaches' expectations concerning the referees, gave us a very good perspective with which to understand each other and communicate in the future. Now, we hope to get on the court as soon as possible to return to the job we love."