The countdown is ticking. The preparations at the NOKIA Arena are almost complete. Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv trains behind closed doors and tomorrow its will be joined by the three other contenders of the 2004 Euroleague Final Four.
In the space of 90 minutes in the afternoon, Montepaschi Siena, Skipper Bologna & VCSKA Moscow, will land at Ben Gurion Airport & later on will practice in Hadar Yoseg & Holon. Maccabi will also have a training session in Hadar Yosef.
The official opening of Final Four events will take place on Wednesday, April 28 at the Tel Aviv Museum of Arts – a press conference attended by: Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo Ron Huldai, CEO Euroleague Basketball Jordi Bertomeu, Maccabi Tel Aviv BC President Shimon Mizrahi, and representatives of the teams: Dusan Ivkovic & Viktor Khryapa (CSKA), Jasmin Repesa & Gianluca Basile (Skipper), Carlo Recalcati & Giacomo Galanda (Montepaschi), Pini Gershon & Gur Shelef (Maccabi).
The four teams will practice in the evening at the NOKIA Arena in the following order: Skipper, Montepaschi, CSKA, Maccabi.
The huge Media Center tent will officially open tomorrow morning and will serve more that 300 media representatives, half of them from overseas. 40 Television stations will broadcast the games, also to the USA. 3,500 police & security persons will secure the events.
The semi finals will be played on Thursday: Skipper – Montepaschi (19:10), Maccabi – CSKA (21:40). On Friday the Final Four Official Dinner will be held at the Tel Aviv Hilton during which the Euroleague Awards Ceremony will be held.
Other events: The Kamkabel Junior International Tournament in Hadar Yosef with the participation of: Zalgiris Kaunas, CSKA Moscow, Montepaschi Siena, Reflex Belgrade, Hapoel Jerusalem & Maccabi Tel Aviv. A coaches clinic will be heldas well the Euroleague Assembly.
