Valentin Lazarov has a whole load of responsibilities on his frail shoulders. As vice president of the technical committee of FIBA – the supreme governing body for basketball in the world – Lazarov knows he has a path to set for the future.

He is presently in Dubai to attend the 24th GCC Basketball Championships being held at the Al Ahli Club hall and hosted by Sharjah Club. One of the biggest advances made by basketball in recent months is the implementation of several rules aimed at making the sport even more pleasing to the fans. And Lazarov has been at the centre of these rule changes which will come into effect in the middle of June this year when the FIBA meets to ratify the same.

Gulf News: You must be pretty excited to be here for these championships?
Valentin Lazarov: I've been here before and this place keeps on changing every time. (Smiles).

What is the exact nature of your visit this time?
I've been training referees in the UAE at a seminar so that they implement the new FIBA rules in concept and spirit.

What sort of rules are we speaking about?
The main one is the change of turn-over time from 30 seconds to 24 seconds. Also coaches will be allowed to take five time outs in all during the course of the game. Of these, two can be taken in the first half and the remaining three any time during the third and fourth quarters.

How do these new rules change the game?
The game will become faster and more exciting for people to watch. Statistics have shown that an average of 14 points extra are scored due to the change in turn-over time from 30 seconds to 24 seconds. The game has become more dynamic with many more fast breaks and points scored.

What exactly is the spirit behind these changes?
We are not conservative in our approach. We felt the need to have some new dimensions and elements in the manner the sport is played. And this is why these changes were mooted.

So can we say that basketball can aspire to overtake soccer with the biggest following of fans?
No, no, no. Soccer is the king of games and we have no intention to change this. But what we consider as a privilege is that if soccer is the king, then basketball is the prince of sports. We are looking at it very realistically and we feel we are on the right track as far the progress and growth of the sport go.