GENEVA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- FIBA expects the season-ending 3x3 World Tour Final in Hong Kong to be a high-level gala, with the tournament to be held at Victoria Park from November 22 to 24.
"In Hong Kong, whether it's on or off the court, we know that we have a world-class host that will provide all the right ingredients for an epic finale that the players deserve. The beauty of 3x3 basketball is that any basketball federation can be successful at the national team level," said Alex Sanchez, FIBA 3x3 Managing Director.
This is the first time that Hong Kong has staged the Final, where the world's top 14 teams will vie for the title and a prize of 1.8 million Hong Kong dollars (230,000 U.S. dollars).
"We know that we can count on fans turning up in numbers and generating the electric atmosphere that 3x3 basketball is known for. It is this accessibility, combined with the urban culture of 3x3 basketball, that we know will continue to welcome new young 3x3 basketball stars in China in the years to come," Sanchez said.
The Olympic 3x3 basketball competition in Paris this summer saw the 4,000-capacity Place de la Concorde sold out daily, with thousands more fans gathering outside.
According to FIBA data, 3x3 basketball had over eight million followers on social media platforms, compared to 2.6 million in 2021. At the Paris Olympics, 132 million views and 195 million impressions were recorded on their social and digital channels, an increase of over 613% from Tokyo 2020.
Sanchez said, "3x3 basketball has continued to go from strength to strength in 2024. The combination of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and another incredible World Tour season has been the perfect recipe for the continued growth of 3x3 basketball. The figures from the Paris Olympics and the 2024 FIBA 3x3 season underline this success."
China is one of the emerging countries on the map of FIBA 3x3 development, featuring six of the 17 stops of the 2024 World Tour.
"A highlight of this extraordinary season was the series of world-class World Tour & Women's Series events in China, culminating in the World Tour Final hosted for the first time in Hong Kong - a fitting conclusion to a record-breaking year," Sanchez added.
"The development of our sport is unprecedented. As we look ahead, the focus remains on expanding the global reach and influence of 3x3 basketball and ensuring the continued growth and development of the sport on the road to LA28," he concluded. ■
