BEIJING, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) — Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), defined on Wednesday evening that basketball as a sport is embracing new members, increasing its depth, and having fun with elevated reputation.
Zagklis made these feedback throughout a pre-event media briefing lower than 10 days earlier than the graduation of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which retains the 32-team format used within the earlier version.
However, there are additionally notable variations this time round. For the primary time, the event will unfold throughout three distinct nations – Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan – every in a unique time zone. Among the 32 taking part groups, 9 will probably be making their debuts within the FIBA World Cup.
During the briefing, Zagklis fielded questions on basketball growth in varied areas, together with West Asia, Britain, Japan, and different elements of the world.
Zagklis highlighted that FIBA occasions have garnered substantial assist from basketball fanatics in West Asia and North Africa. Britain has demonstrated commendable performances in FIBA competitions for each males’s and girls’s classes, and Japanese basketball has proven exceptional progress.
“Our mission is to establish basketball as the most popular sports community worldwide,” he emphasised. “This vision forms the cornerstone of our efforts to foster the global growth of our sport.”
The logistical challenges stemming from the three-host-country association prompted FIBA to implement measures to attenuate transfers. Over half of the groups is not going to require relocation after the group stage, and people needing transfers can have a most of 1 switch. Zagklis famous that the presence of three completely different time zones advantages the distribution of recreation broadcasts, guaranteeing video games span varied occasions of the day.
Zagklis expressed openness to doubtlessly repeating the multi-country organizing format in future World Cup occasions. This might lead to extra FIBA World Cups with a number of host nations. “The central board has considered the possibility of up to four countries and multi-country hosting models,” he defined.
On a enterprise degree, the 2023 FIBA World Cup stands out. It boasts a file variety of sponsorship and advertising and marketing companions. “From a commercial standpoint, this World Cup has already proven to be the most successful we’ve ever had,” Zagklis acknowledged.
In the FIBA World Cup, China finds itself in Group B alongside Serbia, Puerto Rico, and South Sudan. All three of China’s group matches will happen in Manila.