This will be the first time that the UAE and the Middle East region has hosted a FIBA World Championship. This is a historic point in the development of basketball which allows FIBA to ensure that their World Championships have been hosted throughout all the continents worldwide, thus making basketball truly global.
Ismail Al Gargawi, President of the UAE Basketball Association, commented, “This is a first for basketball and a first for the UAE in hosting and participating in one of FIBA’s World Championships. I’m delighted that we and our partners can help showcase basketball to the nation and increase the interest and participation in our great sport. We are looking forward to hosting our friends from FIBA and our other distinguished guests from around the world and showing them all that Dubai has to offer”.
A total of sixteen of the world’s top basketball nations will come to Dubai with their star talents to compete in the Championship which will be played from the 8 -16 August 2014. Seven teams will be making their FIBA U17 World Championship debut, including the UAE which ensures that it will be a momentous occasion for the UAE and the development of basketball in the region.
The UAE will be joined by leading basketball nations including, USA, Spain, Japan, Argentina, France, China and the Philippines. The Championship will take place across three arenas in Dubai with the final taking place at the world class Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Sports Complex on the August 16.
“We are fully behind our U17 men’s team and are hopeful that they can achieve great success at this World Championship. It would be great for our sport and the people of the UAE. Hosting this event allows us the opportunity to make history and be the leading light for basketball in the Middle East” Ismail Al Gargawi said.
The event is supported by the Dubai Sports Council and the Al Habtoor Group.
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