FIBA President Hamane Niang along with other officials during a venue inspection tour in Doha, yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: After hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022 – dubbed the best ever football showpiece in history – Qatar is preparing to deliver a memorable Basketball World Cup 2027 that maximises the long-term legacy.
During its operational planning and inspection visit to Doha, the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) delegation – led by President Hamane Niang – has expressed “confidence” that Qatar will host a highly successful global tournament when it will come to the Middle East and the North Africa region for the first time.
The FIBA delegation also comprises the governing body’s Secretary General Andreas Zagklis and a number of its technical experts.
The touring FIBA officials visited the venues confirmed to stage the World Cup and expressed their delight on state-of-the-art facilities.
Lusail Multipurpose Hall, Duhail Sports Hall, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and Aspire Academy will host the World Cup matches.
Apart from visits to the venues, the delegation received updates on the Local Organizing Committee’s preparations to host the flagship basketball tournament. A comprehensive presentation was also delivered to the FIBA officials on the sport venues, operations, transportation, accommodation, TV broadcasting services and other plans.
Qatar was awarded the hosting of the World Cup 2027 by the FIBA Central Board at its meeting in Manila, Philippines in April, based on the readiness of world-class competition venues and the country’s commitment to sport as a platform for realising national development goals and its enthusiasm to continue the development of basketball at all levels locally.
“We are very happy and excited to be coming to the Gulf region for the first time to host the FIBA World Cup,” FIBA President Niang told reporters at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum yesterday, in what was FIBA’s first press conference in Doha since giving the hosting right to Qatar.
“I want to thank the Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Basketball Federation and the Qatari authorities for their hospitality and the quality of reception,” he said.
“Qatar has hosted many major events in recent years that include the World Handball Championship, World Athletics Championships, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the World Judo Championships. This is one of the key factors why FIBA picked Qatar as hosts.”
From left: Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Director of Strategy & Projects Department Fahad Ebrahim Juma, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, FIBA President Hamane Niang, QBF President Mohammed Saad Almeghaiseeb and QOC’s Head of Media and Communication Abdulhadi Alsahli during a press conference at 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum yesterday.
Qatar has also been hosting many basketball tournaments over the years including several FIBA 3x3 events.
“Qatar is not unknown to FIBA as we have hosted a number of tournaments here. The facilities here are of high quality and we are very confident [of the World Cup success],” FIBA Secretary General Zagklis told reporters yesterday.
“We are in a World Cup year but we are equally excited for the World Cup in Qatar,” said Zagklis referring to the 2023 edition of the FIBA showpiece to be staged in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10.
“From September 11, the [Qatar World Cup] journey will start. We have planned a number of activities on Road to Qatar which also includes the women basketball events,” he added.
Zagklis said the “compact nature of the candidature has become a reality”, saying Qatar 2027 will be a treat for fans.
“The 2027 World Cup will be an entirely different proposition for our fans. First, because we’re coming to a city that has extraordinary accessibility in terms of flights from around the world as well as a very compact World Cup, where all 32 teams will be in the same city. I would say this is the dream of every basketball fan to wake up in the morning and have the opportunity to watch several games of the best players in the world,” said the FIBA Secretary General.
He added a Qatari delegation will attend this year’s World Cup to observe the proceedings.
“The Observers program is a standard program for the following World Cup hosts. We have done the same in previous World Cups and it is a fundamental piece of the preparation. We are discussing the exact dates. Of course, we would expect the Qatari delegation to be in Manila and they are also very eager to see the final phase in Manila with their cameras and with their notepads and of course, with a lot of ideas of their own that we will put together on the table on delivering every time as we (FIBA) is used to do a better World Cup,” said Zagklis.
Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) President Mohammed Saad Almeghaiseeb informed FIBA officials about all managerial, technical and logistics preparations to host an amazing FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027 and to celebrate a new chapter of achievements in sport.
“We will be hosting many tournaments including women’s competitions and other events in build up to the World Cup in 2027,” Almeghaiseeb told reporters at the press conference.
“The presence of the world class facilities and compact nature of the tournament will make Qatar 2027 a special World Cup. We have received a very good feedback from the FIBA officials, who have praised the facilities. Our preparations are in full swing to host an exceptional World Cup, which will be another addition to Qatar’s rich experience of staging global tournaments,” he added.
