BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: FIBA Asia wants to capitalise on the popularity of basketball to have the ‘exciting’ 3x3 format at the Olympic Games, a top basketball official said yesterday.
The mini version of basketball, currently played by thousands of fans around in the world, will make its Asian debut when the inaugural FIBA Asia 3x3 Championships for Men and Women starts in Doha today.
Hagop Khajirian, Secretary General of FIBA Asia, said: “Basketball is the second most popular sport in the Olympic Games when it comes to fan attendance. We feel with the inclusion of the 3x3 format, our sport will attract more fans at the Olympic Games.”
Khajirian said FIBA Asia will submit a detailed file to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the two-day events wraps up at Villaggio Mall.
“We were expecting the arrival of IOC officials for this event, but unfortunately they won’t be able to make it as they have two more stops to make for the same reason,” Khajirian said.
“IOC officials are making visits to different countries to get a feedback on the 3x3 format. I am sure, with the help of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), we will be able to make a great impression on our fans here in Doha and with the IOC family,” he added.
“This format is played all over Asia. It is for everyone. Men and women, young kids and adults, anyone can play this sport. All you have to have is six friends or family members and you can have a 3x3 game,” Khajirian said.
“Our aim is to get away from the regular basketball court so that we interact with sports fans in Asia,” Khajirian explained.
“We don’t want basketball to be played only by big athletes with huge muscular bodies. We want the game to be easily accessible to everyone and enjoyed by the sports fans at the same time,” he said.
“I think the 3x3 format is the best way to create a bond among the communities,” the FIBA Asia official said.
Khajirian said QBF even accommodated a late proposal from FIBA Asia to host a women’s event during the two-day championship.
“We were only organising the men’s event. But FIBA thought of going one step further. We requested QBF to host the women’s event also,” Khajirian said.
“Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (President of QBF) readily accepted our proposal,” Khajirian said.
Khajirian confirfmed players will win individual prizes at the Doha event.
“Although this is a team game and individual performances shouldn’t be singled out but since we are in this age of commercialism, so we have to keep sponsors also happy. So you will see players wining the MVP awards and being picked for All-Star teams,” Khajirian said.
Khajirian said the decision to bring the inaugural edition to Qatar was a no-brainer.
“When the idea of bringing our first 3x3 championship to Doha was floated around, there was no opposition at all from any quarter.” Khajirian said.
“The world knows Qatar’s love for sports. We saw the Asian Games here in 2006. The only Asian country from this region to host the Asian Games was Iran and that too in the 70s,” Khajirian explained. “We also know Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We are very confident that our file to IOC will be greatly appreciated because our events are being held in Doha,” he said.
“We are working hard to make this format played at a professional level,” Khajirian said.
THE PENINSULA
