World basketball bosses sign new 10-year deal to stage 3x3 tournaments in Hong Kong
Fiba gives city organisers ringing endorsement after success of 3x3 World Tour Final in Causeway Bay
Hong Kong’s ability to organise top-class events has been given a ringing endorsement by basketball’s world governing body, with Fiba signing a new 10-year contract to host tournaments in the city.
The successful staging of the 3X3 World Tour Final this weekend was enough to convince officials to commit long term to those behind the event in Causeway Bay, the fourth time the city has staged a tournament for the shorter format of the game.
Kenny Wong Yiu-kin, CEO of organisers M1 Group, said Fiba was extremely satisfied with the “ever-improving” tournaments, so much so the two parties had signed an extension earlier than expected.
“We still had a contract but agreed to scrap that and replace it with a new one,” Wong said. “It’s a five plus five contract now, with the latter part of the deal a decision of ours.
“It was almost mind-blowing for Fiba to witness what we could do with the entertainment and stuff in the surrounding fan zone. The variety of activities on offer lived up to what we called sports entertainment. We are setting a new standard for 3x3 events and outperforming existing events.”
Wong said Fiba had invited him to contribute ideas about running fan villages elsewhere, and the governing body planned to replicate Hong Kong’s successful model at other locations.
