TOKYO (Japan) - The top basketball competition in Japan, the B.LEAGUE, has been officially confirmed as Local Ambassador for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Okinawa is one of the host cities for the 32-team event, which tips off on August 25. Jakarta, Indonesia, and Manila, Philippines, are also staging games in FIBA's men's flagship event.

President of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Organizing Committee of Japan and Japanese Basketball Association President, Yuko Mitsuya, B.LEAGUE Chairman, Shinji Shimada, and the World Cup mascot, JIP, were at the Local Ambassador announcement ceremony.

Former B.LEAGUE MVP Yuki Togashi is a Japan national team point guard

The B.LEAGUE is the competition in which the majority of Japan's national team players take part in and is therefore a crucial vehicle to take advantage of when it comes to promotion of the World Cup since core basketball fans will be reached.

With the B.LEAGUE as the Local Ambassador,  which has 38 teams - 24 in B1 and 14 in B2 - all over the country, there will be countless promotional opportunities throughout Japan.

World Cup promotion will take place at all B.LEAGUE games with the use of LED advertising around the courts. 

All B.LEAGUE teams will help with the Local Organizing Committee in Japan with promotion through their social media, websites and onsite advertising and publicity campaigns at venues.

Japan point guard Kai Toews helped Utsunomiya Brex capture last year's B.LEAGUE title 

B.LEAGUE players will also be joining the LOC's digital promotions and events.

FIBA