Mr Rems who is currently the Secretary General of the Basketball Federation of Slovenia has become the first recipient of this newly established 'Golden Whistle Award' created by the International Basketball Federation to honour retired international referees and commissioners.

Iztok Rems was a FIBA referee from 1988 to 2008. Among his thousands of games he officiated 3 FIBA World Championships, 1 Olympic Games, 5 European Championships and 7 EuroLeague Final Fours.

"Itzok Rems is a well-deserved recipient of this first 'Golden Whistle'Award'", said FIBA President Bob Elphinston. "We should not forget the difficult work of the many international referees who are an integral part of the game".