Today we can finaly close the registrations for the 2011 Altia Belgacom X-Mas Tournament. Olympia Denderleeuw reigstered as 14th and last participant in the U14 age group. We wamly welcome this Belgian team and we are looking forward meeting them at the tournament. Visit their website:http://www.bbcolympia.be/

The well known printing house Jo Vandenbulcke will this year sponsor the much appreciated three point contest. This contest takes place on December 27th, in the evening, on all the game sites. On every site a three point champion will be rewarded. We thank Jo Vandenbulcke for his well appreciated contribution to the X-Mas tournament.

Today we can announce the participation of the national girls team U17 from the Netherlands in the Altia Belgacom X-Mas Tournament. This talented group, coached by the well known Meindert Van Veen, will be a tough challenger for the national teams of Belgium and England in this age group. The WU18 competition, sponsored by Etixx, looks by then very promising !

Taken into account the difference in age groups in France, it’s difficult finding French teams for U14 and U16 competitions. This year, however, we are happy to announce the participation of the regional selection U13 of the Department “Pas de Calais” in the tournament. The participation of this selection fits perfectly into the project “Côte d’Opale – Nord –Pas de Calais – West Vlaanderen”, which is assisting high level athletes. Bienvenue !

Slovakia will for the first time be represented on the Altia Belgacom X-Mas Tournament. The WU18 from Petrzalka Bratislava registered indeed as 7th participant in their category. Slovakia is being known as a very strong nation in women’s basketball, and the team from Bratislava counts 6 national team players. We warmly welcome the team and are looking forward to their games against the other strong club and national teams. Visit their website: www.bkpetrzalka.sk

Today, the England Basketball League confirmed the participation of their national team Girls U18 in the X-Mas tournament. This second national selection (Belgium registered earlier on) will of course be one of the interesting teams in the brand new competition, and a serious challenger for the finals. England is now presented by both its boys and Girls U18 teams in the Altia Belgacom X-Mas Tournament.

They announced their intention to participate a while ago, and confirmed yesterday: the U18 team of Telekom Baskets Bonn will participate in the X-Mas tournament 2011. Bonn will now be represented both in U18 and U16. Visit their website: www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de

Excellent news coming from the Basketball League: the national team Girls U17 will participate in this year’s X-Mas Tournament. This very talented team, in preparation of their participation in the 2010 World Championships will for sure be one of the most attractive teams to watch in Ypres during the X-Mas tournament. The organizers are, of course, very happy with the participation of another national selection (boys U18 and U16 registered earlier-

We are happy to announce the participation of yet another Lithuanian team in the X-Mas tournament. BG Gargzdai-Bremena will participate in the U18 event.
BC „Gargždai-Bremena“ is a professional Lithuanian basketball club, currently playing in NBL (second league) . BC „Gargždai-Bremena“ was founded in 2010 by the famous former national team point guard Marius Prekevicius. Knowing the reputation of the Lithuanian basketball, for sure a high level participant ! Visit their website: http://www.bcgargzdai.lt  

Kangoeroes Boom, one of the few top level girls youth programs in Belgium registered today for the 2010 Belgacom altia X-Mas Tournament. Thsi well know team is a traditional leader in our girls basketball, and we are of course very happy having them registered. visit their website: http://www.kangoeroes-boom.be/

Registrations for the brand new girls tournament started rather slowly, but the last couple of weeks, we are making big steps forward. Months ago we had the first registration coming from the Netherlands: Grasshoppers. A week ago, we could add Blue Cats Ieper Belgium) to the participants list. Today, we could add the Belgian National Team U17 and Kangoeroes Boom (Belgium). In the coming days, we are awaiting confirmation of three national selections for the tournament: the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland showed their interest and will (hopefully) confirm by the end of the month