SINGAPORE — One other first for Singapore as the distinguished FIBA Intercontinental Cup is ready to enter a brand new chapter of its lengthy historical past in 2023, after FIBA and Sport Singapore agreed to a three-year partnership that expands the occasion to additionally contain Asia for the primary time and higher displays the fashionable membership basketball panorama.
The Singapore Sports activities Hub is destined to change into the first-ever venue in Asia to host the FIBA Intercontinental Cup as it would present the stage for the thirty third version of the event, from 21-24 September 2023. The competitors can be performed later within the yr in order to adapt extra effectively to the home and continental leagues’ calendar, and the schedule of worldwide gamers, and to raised accommodate collaborating golf equipment.
“This settlement serves each as the conclusion of a basketball dream that dates again generations in addition to a launchpad into the long run period of worldwide membership basketball. Singapore, as a melting pot of cultures, is maybe the perfect place to convey that imaginative and prescient to life,” stated FIBA secretary-general Andreas Zagklis.
“The primary version of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 1966 was an impressed occasion conceived by visionaries. They envisioned a contest that will help in uniting completely different cultures by basketball however solely dared to dream that sooner or later the occasion would develop to the purpose the place golf equipment from all corners of the globe compete in it,” added Zagklis.
The collaborating groups can be elevated from 4 to 6 groups, with the extra Chinese language membership to be collectively chosen by FIBA and the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation. The 4 groups representing the identical 4 continental leagues as prior to now two editions will stay the identical, whereas the sixth participant can be introduced by FIBA at a later date.
The 4 groups representing their continental leagues will embody the champions from the 2023 Basketball Africa League, knowledgeable league that includes the highest 12 membership groups from 12 African international locations operated in partnership between FIBA and the NBA. The opposite two groups would be the champions of the European Basketball Champions League 2022-2023 and the champions of the Basketball Champions League Americas 2022-2023. The one confirmed group for this yr’s FIBA Intercontinental Cup is the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental group that was based in 2020 to arrange high prospects for the NBA Draft.
“The FIBA Intercontinental Cup is a vital showcase for high membership groups from exterior the NBA and displays the power {of professional} basketball leagues around the globe. We’re excited that NBA G League Ignite and the champions of the upcoming third season of the Basketball Africa League can be represented at this yr’s event in Singapore, the place we lately opened an workplace and the place there may be rising affinity for the sport,” stated NBA deputy commissioner and chief working officer Mark Tatum.
The announcement of Singapore internet hosting the FIBA Intercontinental Cup coincides with the internet hosting of the FIBA 3X3 Asia Cup 2023 on the finish of the month. Sport Singapore deputy chief govt officer Toh Boon Yi shared that he’s happy that Singapore is ready to showcase its capability to host such a world-class sporting occasion and additional advance the curiosity of the game to the locals.
“Constructing on the success of the FIBA 3X3 Asia Cup 2022, which can return for one more version this month, we’re comfortable to host the FIBA Intercontinental Cup that can deal with followers right here to world-class high-impact basketball motion. Ranked high 5 in our annual Nationwide Sports activities Participation Survey, basketball has at all times been a well-liked sport amongst Singaporeans. The FIBA Intercontinental Cup will additional improve the curiosity and encourage extra folks, particularly the youth to play and watch the game,” shared Toh.
“Come September 2023, Singapore will as soon as once more showcase its functionality and innovation to the worldwide sporting group as we welcome athletes, officers and followers from around the globe. FIBA Intercontinental Cup can be an necessary addition to our occasions portfolio that advances our nation’s sporting, social and financial aspirations,” added Toh.
Spanish membership Lenovo Tenerife are the present trophy holders after profitable the thirty second version of the competitors, wherein they competed as Basketball Champions League 2021-22 winners. That was the second occasion in a row which featured the champions of continental leagues from 4 completely different world areas. Actual Madrid stays essentially the most adorned membership in competitors historical past, having conquered the trophy on 5 events.
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