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| (Image Source: FIBA) |
There is just one year to go before the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia with all three countries having highlighted the latest milestone with big events in recent days. Tissot Countdown Clocks have been unveiled in each of the host nations so fans will know exactly how much time remains before the start of the 32-team international hoops extravaganza. The Tissot Countdown Clocks, produced and operated by FIBA Global Partner Tissot, indicate the remaining days, hours, minutes and seconds until the start of the World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Japan unveiled their Tissot Countdown Clock on August 25 in Tenbusu Naha Plaza in Naha City and the celebrations continued on August 27 in Okinawa City where World Cup activities took place along with special events and cultural exhibitions. On August 28, Naha City had another special milestone celebration with various basketball activities, games and other festivities with fans coming together in Ohnoyama Park. Evelyn Mawuli, a Japan women's national team star who played a big part in the country's silver medal run at the Tokyo Olympics, was among those present and a part of the festive occasion. The Philippines and Indonesia also unveiled Tissot Countdown Clocks to celebrate one year to the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
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| (Image Source: Business World/FIBA) |
The Philippines had their festivities on August 27 at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. The big day was shown live on national television via One Sports on free TV and Cignal TV's One Sports+ on pay TV and was attended by FIBA President Hamane Niang as well FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Chairman Richard Carrion, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Executive Director David Crocker; Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, SBP President Al Panlilio, SBP Vice President Victorico Vargas, SBP Executive Director and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Event Director - Philippines Renauld Barrios, and Tissot Representative Denis Dy. Organizers also introduced Catriona Gray and the 2013-2014 roster of the country's iconic national men's basketball team Gilas Pilipinas as the Local Ambassadors for the 2023 edition of FIBA's flagship event. Gray, a Filipino model, television personality and youth advocate, is best known for having been crowned Miss Universe 2018. The 2013-14 Gilas team, meanwhile, is fondly remembered for having defeated nemesis Korea, 86-79, in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Asia Cup 2013 to reach the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 for the first time since 1978.
Indonesia whet fans' appetite for international basketball with the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 in Jakarta just several weeks ago. On August 28, the country's Tissot Countdown Clock unveiling took place at the Bundaran HI with thousands of people attending the early morning event which coincided with the 'Jakarta Car Free Day' that occurs every Sunday morning. The Jakarta celebrations also included a special event for media and the first appearance of the host country's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Local Ambassador Raffi Ahmad, the founder of Rans Entertainment and one of the country's top Instagram influencers who also owns a basketball club in Indonesia's basketball league. Numerous dignitaries and special guests were on hand in Jakarta including FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Chairman Richard Carrion, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Executive Director David Crocker, FIBA Central Board member Erick Thohir, Indonesia Basketball Association (IBA) President Danny Kosasih, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Deputy Event Director - Indonesia Agus Antares Mauro, Tissot representative Handro Kesuma, DTI Jakarta People and Welfare Assistant Deputy Uus Kuswanto, and Indonesia's Joint Management Committee Chairman Cahyadi Wanda.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 mascot JIP was also in attendance at all host cities celebrating the one year to go milestone. The festivities gave the basketball community an opportunity to see the event's mascot whose name was recently selected by fans from around the world. The celebrations to mark one year to the start of the World Cup were well attended and a big success. The Tissot Countdown Clocks will now serve as a constant reminder that the World Cup is getting closer and closer, with the best countries in international basketball getting ready to set their sights on basketball’s biggest prize, the Naismith Trophy.
