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Yvan Mainini (1944-2018
The Governing body of world Basketball FIBA has announced the passing away of Honorary President Yvan Mainini. He was 73.
Mr Mainini was unanimously elected as the 11th FIBA President during the FIBA World Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, in September 2010.
At the end of his term he was elected FIBA Honorary President and appointed President of FIBA's Foundation, the International Basketball Foundation (IBF).
Mr Mainini was instrumental in FIBA'S House of Basketball, the headquarters of world basketball's governing body since 2013. He led the reform of FIBA's governance, which was unanimously and historically approved during the FIBA Extraordinary World Congress in March 2014. His passion for 3x3 and the expertise he brought to its advisory board were driving forces in the urban discipline reaching new heights, culminating in obtaining Olympic status in June 2017.
Yvan Mainini was born on December 26th, 1944, in the French city of Bayeux. He began playing basketball in 1957 and, just four years later, at only 16 years of age, he became the head coach of his hometown team, a role he would hold for a total of 17 seasons.
He started refereeing at 17 and had a decade-and-a-half long international officiating career, consisting of more than 300 international games between 1973 and 1988. During this time, he called games at three Olympics and three FIBA Basketball World Cups, including the 1982 and 1986 Finals between the USA and the USSR.
Mr Mainini graduated from the University of Caen with a degree in geography in 1977. He completed a Masters Degree in Law and Economics of Sport in Limoges in 1993.
He was Director of the Sports, Culture and Communication Department for the commune of Mondeville.
In 1992, he was elected President of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), a position he held for18 years. He became a member of the FIBA Central Board in 1994 and was its Vice-President for four years (1998-2002), while also serving one term as FIBA Europe President (1998-2001).
Mr Mainini was also involved in the Olympic movement, as a special advisor to the French National Olympic Committee President.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
