CHENGDU, China (2017 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships) - The 2017 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships will take place in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province and eighth biggest city in China by population in front of the imposing Global Center on 28 June - 2 July 2017.

The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the Chengdu Municipal Government will host the sixth edition of a competition, which became the first-ever 3x3 event organised by FIBA (in Rimini, Italy) in 2011.

China has been a pioneer in the development of 3x3 and a Chinese team has played in every edition of the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships, reaching the quarter-finals three times (latest with the women in 2016) and collecting two bronze medals in individual contests (2011 skills contest and 2013 dunk contest).

Chengdu is home of the Sichuan JinQiang Blue Whale - the CBA reigning champions - and has been host of several premium 3x3 basketball events, including the upcoming FIBA 3x3 Challenger on 18-19 June.

All games at the 2017 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships will be played on the same court with 20 men’s and 20 women’s teams competing in a team event and in three individual contests (men’s dunk contest, women’s skills contest and mixed shoot-out contest).

The selection of teams for the tournament is based on the FIBA 3x3 Federation Ranking at the cut-off date of 1 November 2016. The Ranking includes sport and development criteria, allowing both the strongest teams on the field as well as the most active countries to participate in the event, which fulfills a key aim of 3x3 - diversity. At least thirty different countries and territories from all continents will be represented at the event.

The event will mark the second consecutive year that China hosts a high-level FIBA 3x3 event as Guangzhou will organise the FIBA 3x3 World Championships (senior) on 11-15 October this year.

###

ABOUT FIBA 3X3

Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball 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 benefitted from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour (www.fiba.basketball/3x3worldtour) and national-team world championships.

Nike is FIBA 3x3's Founding Partner.

FIBA 3x3 events are played on Sport Court's floors with Schelde backstops and benefit from Wilson's innovative and specially-made ball for 3x3. 

For further information about 3x3, visit fiba.com/3x3, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube or contact 3x3@fiba.com.

FIBA