Mataró will become the epicenter of European basketball for a day on May 10th. Just two weeks before the EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, the European Players Union (ELPA) organizes a day dedicated to players in the capital of Maresme. The EPIC (ELPA Performance International Congress) is an International Congress focused on mitigating the effects of the calendar on athletes. Just this season, there will be players competing in more than 90 games. Those who play in the Pre-Olympic and secure a ticket to the Paris Games will surpass 100 games.
The Congress, now in its third edition, will be held in person at the Tecnocampus de Mataró and also online. It will feature professionals of reference in the basketball world: the Head of Medical Services of the EuroLeague, Dr. Ignacio Muro, the Doctor of Anadolu Efes in Istanbul, Ugur Dilicikik, the Doctor of FC Barcelona, Jordi Puigdellívol, the Physical Trainer of Olimpia Milano, Francesco Cuzzolin, or the Psychologist who oversaw Ricky Rubio’s recovery during his last extended absence, Mar Rovira. In total, there will be 12 presentations by top basketball experts focused on injury prevention, recovery, nutrition, training methods, habits, and mental health to extend athletes’ careers. Additionally, there will be a round table with players and former players such as EuroLeague champion Luigi Datome, three-time top scorer Igor Rakocevic, and two other players.
For ELPA’s Managing Director, Bostjan Nachbar, “Mataró will be the epicenter of European basketball for performance teams: coaches, physical trainers, nutritionists, psychologists… The presenters who will share their experiences work in or with the best European basketball clubs and federations.” In this sense, there will be presentations and workshops of the highest level, providing an opportunity to mingle with the best experts in the world and exchange experiences.
For the General Director of Tecnocampus, Josep Lluís Checa López, “the agreement with the EuroLeague Players Association to hold this congress at Tecnocampus places us on the map of relevant events related to sports, specifically basketball.” In this regard, Nachbar adds that “we know the importance and relevance of Tecnocampus. It has an impressive congress center and many students from the areas covered by our congress.” Additionally, Mataró has a long tradition of basketball in Catalonia, both professionally and amateurishly. In Maresme’s capital alone, there are 2 clubs, 87 federated teams, and 1,084 licenses. The coincidence with Tecnocampus, associated with Pompeu Fabra University, makes the city the ideal location for the third edition of EPIC.
EPIC has the support of the Catalan Basketball Federation. According to its President, Ferran Aril, this is a “prestigious International Congress, and FCBQ could not miss the opportunity to collaborate. We had to be somehow involved.” For Aril, “this is a recognized event, and we are convinced that what EPIC offers in Mataró can be very interesting and beneficial for the different agents of Catalan Basketball.”
The Congress is open to everyone: players and coaches, both professional and amateur, and sports professionals (doctors, physical trainers, recovery specialists, physiotherapists, and sports psychologists). In fact, this third edition also has the support of different associations such as Tecnocampus de Mataró itself, the Catalan Basketball Coaches Association (ACEB), the Spanish Association of Basketball Physical Trainers (ASEPREB), and the Spanish Association of Basketball Physicians (AEMB), among others abroad. Registrations are now open.
ELPA was founded in 2018 and in just 6 years, it has gained recognition from all the organizations that are part of continental basketball. It has all the EuroLeague players under its umbrella since the framework agreement was signed with the competition owners.
For more information, visit the page dedicated to EPIC: https://elpa.basketball/epic/
