The Diplomat
Organised by the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Madrid and the Centro Sefarad-Israel, a solemn ceremony was held on 13 December in memory of the basketball player from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mirza Delibašić, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his death.
Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Danka Savic stressed in her speech that “Mirza Delibašić was not only an elite athlete, but also an example of sportsmanship and morality, a role model for the next generations. His decision not to leave Sarajevo in the most difficult period, during the siege and destruction of the city, when his fellow citizens were cruelly murdered, was an extremely heroic and ethical act. Mirza, despite the security offered to him in European capitals, preferred to take the lead of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team”.
Juan Antonio Corbalán, former Real Madrid basketball player, author of Conversations with Mirza and his friend, spoke with great emotion about Mirza’s incredible talent, his human greatness and the time he spent in Madrid. The former Madrid point guard compared the elegance with which Mirza Delibašić played on the court to the impeccable sound of the violin. He also pointed out that Delibašić was welcome everywhere, he was simply the “Man everybody loved”.
The conversation with Corbalán was led by Centro Sefarad director Miguel de Lucas, a great admirer of the Bosnian basketball player.
This year marks 40 years since he arrived in Spain as a basketball star to play for Real Madrid, where he spent two years (81-83). Mirza ended his basketball career in September 1984 with a game between Bosnia and Real Madrid, which was played in Sarajevo, and with which Real Madrid wanted to say goodbye to him.
Mirza Delibašić won everything a sportsman could win at the time: twice Yugoslavian champion, in 1978 and 1980; European champion with the Bosna basketball club in 1979, and world champion with the Yugoslavian national team in 1981. He also won the Spanish league with Real Madrid two years later. He was ranked among the 50 best players in the FIBA and Euroleague.
