Top 3x3 action, entertainment set for Manama Masters

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The FIBA 3x3 Manama Masters will be an entertaining celebration of basketball that will strengthen Bahrain’s status as a leading regional tourist destination.

This has been declared by FIBA 3x3 Commission member Radu Petre, who was speaking at the official launch for the event’s inaugural edition taking place 16 and 17 November at Bahrain Financial Harbour.

It will be the Kingdom of Bahrain’s first-ever appearance on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour, and it is taking place under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) president and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

“3x3 is not just about sport, it is about community, entertainment and music,” Petre told the media.

“It is a 10-minute sprint, and we are really looking forward to having the 3x3 basketball debut in Bahrain. “We are sure everybody will enjoy Bahrain and its hospitality.

We will show the world the potential of Bahrain as a tourist destination.” This year’s inaugural event will be the first for the next three years for the Kingdom on the FIBA 3x3 World Tour.

The series’ 2023 calendar got underway in April in Japan, with other destinations all over the world throughout the year.

Bahrain is the world tour’s fourth destination in the GCC, joining Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.

“3x3 is an Olympic sport, and we are in the pre-Olympic year, so everybody is fighting for a position in the Olympic Games,” said Petre.

“3x3 basketball is a global discipline and we think that Bahrain is a perfect fit to enter the 3x3 basketball world with this Manama Masters.”

In September of last year, the BOC signed its agreement with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to host the FIBA 3x3 World Tour. BOC vice-president His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who is also the organising committee’s chairman, penned the agreement with Ignacio Soriano, FIBA’s Events and Partnership 3x3 president.

Bahrain’s hosting of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour for the first time is being organised with the cooperation of the BOC, the Bahrain Basketball Association, the GSA and FIBA.