Philippines – Indonesian and Japanese basketball fans shared the enjoyment of the Philippines on Saturday, which can host the FIBA Basketball World Cup in six years.
The Philippines, Indonesia and Japan won the joint bid to host the 2023 edition of the event. This will likely be the primary time in history that the World Cup will likely be held in multiple countries.
Indonesia and Japan will host eight countries each, while the Philippines will host the remaining 16. The play-offs – including the semi-finals and final – can even be held within the Philippines.
“We are very pleased. It is cooperation with the Philippines and Japan and we are going to organize one of the best FIBA Basketball World Cup that we are able to organize,” Erick Thohir, president of the Indonesian National Olympic Committee and member of the FIBA Central Council, said in an interview with FIBA.
Thohir noted that the three countries “can support each other and showcase huge diversity” while also providing FIBA with an enormous audience of around 500 million people.
“As we know, Indonesia and the Philippines are currently among the fastest growing countries in Southeast Asia,” he added. “So I really see good cooperation for Indonesia, the Philippines, and also Japan.”
What’s more, Thohir believes the groundbreaking multi-nation hosting will only create more opportunities for other countries. FIBA has already said that Argentina and Uruguay – who lost their 2023 bids yesterday – could renew their campaigns and bid for the 2027 World Cup next 12 months.
“I think the most important thing is how we develop basketball around the world,” Thohir said. “Of course, Indonesia is one of the countries we want to become a big market in the future.”
Meanwhile, Japan Basketball Association president Yuko Mitsuya expressed confidence that Okinawa would also do well. This is the second time Japan has hosted the FIBA World Cup; Saitama hosted the foremost event in 2006.
Mitsuya assured that basketball in Japan has grown exponentially since 2006 and may proceed to grow because the 2023 World Cup approaches.
“The basketball environment has changed a lot in Japan since the country hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2006. Now we have the B League, a professional basketball league, which has helped us become more dynamic,” he said.
The three nations which have already won the rights to host the 2023 World Cup at the moment are trying to work together to make sure its success.
“We need to communicate regularly with the Philippines and Indonesia and think not only about Japan’s success in 2023, but about the success of all three countries,” Mitsuya said.
“The work with Japan and Indonesia starts today,” said Manny V. Pangilinan, president emeritus of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. “I am sure that at the end of the day, it will be a great tournament for all three countries, for FIBA and for world basketball.”
Source: ABN-CBS
