Featured image credit: Singapore Sports Hub
The Singapore Sports Hub has been awarded hosting rights for the next three editions of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA)’s Intercontinental Cup.
FIBA agreed the deal with Sport Singapore, and this year’s event will mark the first time the club competition has ever been held in Asia. The event will take place from September 21-24.
FIBA has opted to move the tournament from its February slot to September so that it adapts more efficiently to the calendars of domestic and continental leagues, as well as the schedule of international players.
The most recent edition of the Intercontinental Cup took place last month on the Spanish island of Tenerife. The previous four editions were also held in February but the event will return to its September slot later this year.
September’s event will feature an expanded field of six teams, including a Chinese club jointly selected by FIBA and the Chinese Basketball Association, as well as the respective champions from Europe’s Basketball Champions League, Basketball Africa League and Basketball Champions League Americas. NBA G League team Ignite will also compete alongside a sixth participant that will be announced by FIBA in due course.
Singapore also staged last year’s 3×3 Asia Cup and has been awarded hosting rights to the next three editions of the three-a-side tournament featuring national teams from Asia and Oceania.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said: “This agreement serves both as the realisation of a basketball dream that dates back generations as well as a launchpad into the future era of global club basketball. Singapore, as a melting pot of cultures, is perhaps the ideal place to bring that vision to life.”
Toh Boon Yi, deputy chief executive of Sport Singapore, added: “Building on the success of the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2022, which will return for another edition this month, we are happy to host the FIBA Intercontinental Cup that will treat fans here to world-class high-impact basketball action.
“Ranked top five in our annual National Sports Participation Survey, basketball has always been a popular sport among Singaporeans. The FIBA Intercontinental Cup will further enhance the interest and inspire more people, especially the youth to play and watch the sport.”
Last month’s event was won by Spanish club Lenovo Tenerife.
Singapore was recently awarded hosting rights for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, with the Singapore Sports Hub to be among the competition venues.
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