Saudi Arabia prepared from home games at Asia Cup Qualifiers, first FIBA event hosting since 1997
JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - It has been a busy couple of months from July to August in Saudi Arabia with statisticians, competitions, communications workshop in addition to the inspection of the King Abdullah Sports City complex in Jeddah in preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers set to tip-off in February 2020. Asia's first-ever continental qualifiers will see Saudi Arabia play 6 games over 3 windows against Syria, Qatar, and Iran.
“We’re delighted to host meaningful home games in Saudi Arabia,” said Dr. Ghassan Tashkandi, Board Member and Head of National Team Committee.
The last time Saudi Arabia hosted a FIBA event goes back to September 1997. The FIBA Asia Cup was held back then in Riyadh and home team Saudi Arabia went all the way to a 4th place finish. They will get another opportunity for home court advantage with Jeddah serving as hosts for Saudi Arabia’s Asia Cup Qualifiers home games. It will also be the first ever FIBA event held in Jeddah.
Jeddah will show the world how basketball is popular here. - Dr. Tashkandi”
In preparation for the Asia Cup Qualifiers, 3 statisticians' workshops were held from July 2-7 in 3 different cities from Riyadh, Jeddah, to Medina. This continues the efforts to develop statisticians within the country, after having conducted two workshops last year in Riyadh and Damman.
“Statistics is now an important part of a basketball game - it’s crucial,” emphasized Dr. Tashkandi. “We organized 5 workshops in 4 different cities in the last couple of years because we need to have capable and certified statisticians.”
“The workshop will not only help our statisticians manage the expectations during the Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers, but it will also make sure we have a good team for the local league games.”
A Competitions and Communications workshop was also conducted from August 4-7 in order to help the staff understand the deliverables for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers.
“Jeddah has played host to major sporting events in the last few years and it is time for the city to do its bit for Basketball as well,” said Dr. Tashkandi.
“Jeddah will show the world how basketball is popular here.”
FIBA
