In a first of its kind, Bengaluru is getting ready to host the FIBA 3×3 Olympic qualifying tournament from March 18, 2020. With the
official logo launched by former Indian cricket captain Anil Kumble, the final touches to the tournament format are underway. The scale of the first ever Olympics qualifier tournament, FIBA 3×3, is huge, with 40 teams from 40 countries vie for the spots. Indian basketball fans will get an opportunity to see over 150 players in action over 5 days of sporting action in Bengaluru.
“It is a matter of great honour and pride for our country that we are hosting the first ever 3X3 Olympic qualifying tournament in which top 40 countries and around 160 international basketball players will be participating,” Basketball Federation of India (BFI) president K
Govindaraj said.
Even as the concept behind the design of the official logo took into consideration of what the FIBA 3×3 Olympic qualifier truly represents.The tournament will create a positive impact within the basketball culture in India as it will bring top level players to the Indian soil.
While explaining the concept, secretary general of BFI, Chander Mukhi Sharma said, “3×3 is inspired by several forms of street-ball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court. It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3×3 World Tour.”
It is exciting for India to host the first ever 3×3 Olympic qualifier. A total of 16 teams (8 in each gender) will compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. While 8 of them (4 in each gender) have already qualified on November 1, 2019 based on the FIBA 3×3 Federation Ranking. Six additional tickets (3 in each gender) will be delivered at the qualifying tournament in Bengaluru.
