Italy's basketball supremo has hailed the 2007 European Championships for Women as an opportunity to revive women's hoops in the country.

The men's game is thriving on the international stage, with the Italian men having captured the European title in 1999, then bronze at the 2003 Eurobasket before snatching silver at the Olympics in August. Women's basketball, however, has suffered in recent years with the national team's young and inexperienced side unable to qualify for the European tournament since 1999.

		“	We are delighted that FIBA Europe have selected us to host the big event	„
		Fausto Maifredi

But the news of Italy hosting the competition, which will be expanded to 16 teams in 2007, could well be the turning point the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) is looking for.

Nine years have passed since the Azzurre made headlines after clinching the silver medal in the 1995 Eurobasket, only to be stopped by the Ukraine in the final.

"This is very important for us because it will improve the women's game and we are on the way to having a competitive team for the big event," Fausto Maifredi, president of the FIP, told PA International.

"We have not hosted a European competition since 1993 and we are delighted that FIBA Europe have selected us to host the big event."

The Azzurre still have a chance to qualify for the 2005 Eurobasket.

The 10 teams that did not qualify are split into two groups of three and one group of four. Italy must win their group, and then beat the other two group winners to qualify for the tournament in Turkey.

"It's going to be very difficult because we have to compete against nine teams for just one qualifying spot," said Maifredi.

"Our aim is to continue with our project which will allow us to have a strong team by 2007."