Euroleague Basketball 2006 - 2007 Opening Game

Barcelona, October 19th, 2006. Once again this fall, the date of the first Euroleague game of the season is circled in red on the calendars of all basketball fans. Continuing a tradition that began with the first opening game, held in Rome in 2003, this year's opening game, between former European champions DKV Joventut and Panathinaikos Athens on Tuesday, October 24 in Badalona, Spain, marks a special moment for European basketball.

The 2003-04 opening game celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 1984 continental final between Roma and FC Barcelona. The 2004-05 opening game toasted the 60th anniversary of Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuanian. Next Tuesday's opening game will mark the 75th anniversary of DKV Joventut, a continental giant making its return to the competition. 

Events surrounding the opening game will begin on Monday afternoon at 18:30 local time with the presentation of the Euroleague Basketball Official Guide at the Palau Municipal d'Esports de Badalona, the home court of DKV Joventut. The Euroleague Basketball Official Guide will be presented to the media on-court between team practices and with the collaboration of players.

The team practice schedules will be as follows:

 From 17:00 to 19:00  DKV JOVENTUT (last 30 minutes open to media)
 From 19:00 to 21:00  PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS (first 30 minutes open to media)

The practices will be open to media from 18:30 to 19:30. The first 15 minutes of the DKV Joventut media availability (18:30 - 18:45) and the last 15 minutes of the Panathinaikos media availability (19:15-19:30) will be for taking pictures only.
During the last 15 minutes of the DKJ Joventut media availability (18:45-19:00) and the first 15 minutes of the Panathinaikos media availability (19:00-19:15), journalists will be allowed to conduct interviews while the 2006-2007 Euroleague Basketball Official Guide will be presented.

The following day, Tuesday the 24th, a Euroleague Basketball 2006-2007 season presentation press conference will be held in the VIP room of Palau Municipal d'Esports de Badalona with the attendance of Euroleague Basketball C.E.O Jordi Bertomeu introducing the new season's goals, followed by the presentation of the Euroleague Basketball Master in Sports Marketing and Communication by Ca´Foscari University with the attendance of Ca´Foscari University teacher and Euroleague Basketball Master Scientific Director Tiziano Vescovi.

A post-game reception will be held in the same complex at the conclusion of the opening game between DKV Joventut and Panathinaikos.