Davis Cup, Fed Cup Reforms Approved by ITF Board -- Federations Focus

(ATR) A series of reforms for Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is one step closer to reality.

The International Tennis Federation Board of Directors approved recommendations including reducing all singles matches in Davis Cup to best-of-three sets from best-of-five and guaranteeing the finalists in both Davis Cup and Fed Cup the choice of hosting their first round tie in the following year.

The latter change is tied to a move to have fixed venue finals for the two competitions. The ITF says bids have been received and are being assessed and that the Board will reconvene later this month.

The ITF Annual General Meeting will be asked to approve the reforms at the session in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in August.

"Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas are two of the most iconic team competitions in sport, but there is no doubt change is needed to ensure that we maximize their full potential," ITF President David Haggerty says in a statement.

"While still needing AGM approval, we are confident that our National Associations will see that to vote for these reforms is to vote for the long-term future of our competitions and our sport."

FIBA Americas Executive Director Retires

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is losing a veteran of the organization.

FIBA Americas executive director Alberto Garcia announced he is retiring after working for the International Federation for 19 years.

Garcia made a name for himself as a premier basketball referee in Argentina, beginning to call games in 1962 and elevating his career to the national basketball stage by 1970. He became an international referee in 1982 during the South American Championships. He continued refereeing until retiring in 1992 after the FIBA Americas Championship.

His subsequent work as a referee instructor caught the eye of FIBA who named him one of the top five instructors in the world. In 1996, FIBA brought him on to the FIBA Americas team as technical director.

Garcia would go on to work with Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 before being named FIBA Americas secretary general in 2006, a position that has since been renamed executive director.

"On behalf of FIBA, I would like to thank Alberto Garcia for all that he has done since joining the organisation 19 years ago," said FIBA secretary general and IOC member Patrick Baumann. "His hard work, complete dedication and unwavering commitment - especially in the last decade as Americas' Executive Director - are to be commended."

FIBA Americas president Usie Richards will fulfill Garcia’s role until his replacement is found.

Mongolia Sport Administrator Seeks Highest Political Position

Battulga Khaltmaa hopes to get a promotion from his job as Mongolian Judo Association President, to just Mongolian President.

Khaltmaa is one of three candidates running for president in an election on June 26. He is a member of the Democratic Party, one of three parties allowed to submit candidates. Khaltmaa previously served as Minister of Transportation and Minister of Industry and Agriculture in Mongolia under President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.

Khaltmaa has been president of the Mongolian Judo Association since 2006, during which the country won its first ever gold medal from judoka Naidangiin Tüvshinbayar at Beijing 2008.

"I am ready for the election," Khaltmaa said recently according to an International Judo Federation release. "Mongolians will triumph."

Written by Gerard Farek, Kevin Nutley and Aaron Bauer.

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