Gino Burcovich

Gino Burcovich was an Italian basketball player, referee, and sports manager. Burcovich played for Laetitia Venezia, then moved to Reyer Venezia, with whom he played in Top League in the 1948-49 season.

In 1958 Burcovich began refereeing, and he was in charge in the Top League from 1964-78, officiating 170 games. Alongside his brother Bruno, he refereed the final of the first edition of the Italian Cup in 1968. An international referee since 1962, he was in charge of international competitions notably in Eastern countries, in men’s and women’s tournaments like Maccabiadi, the 1970 Summer Universiade at Torino, Hapoel Games, 1st Juri Gagarin tournament, München Pre-Olympic tournament (1972), in all continental cups, and finally at the 1976 Montréal Olympics.

Known affectionately as “Nini“, Burcovich was subsequently appointed referee commissioner of FIBA and the Italian Federation. After ending his career on the floor, he held the positions of provincial and regional president of Veneto, federal councilor (1992) during the presidency of Gianni Petrucci, and an executive of Reyer Venezia (1994-96).

In his career Burcovich received numerous awards: CONI bronze star in 1987, Diploma of merit for “A life for basketball” in 1987, Silver star of CONI in 1994 and gold in 2003, and he was made a Knight Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1977.