FIBA – Organisers lay court for inaugural Youth Olympic 3on3 basketball

SINGAPORE (Youth Olympic Games) – Host organisers have just completed the installation of the official competition basketball court ahead of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) basketball competition that gets underway on 14th August. This event marks the debut of FIBA 33, the official 3 on 3 version of basketball.

FIBA has decided to use this new basketball format at the YOG as it is consistent with the values of the event: a celebration of sport for young people, balancing athletic performance, culture and education.

"It's not an alternative, but it's an add-on, and we may have it at the Olympics as early as 2020,," said FIBA Secretary General and IOC Member Patrick Baumann. "For many people around the world playing 3 on 3 is their introduction to basketball. It is fun and exciting, and an excellent format for inclusion in these first Youth Olympic Games."

Singapore organisers chose to hold the basketball competition outdoors at the beautiful *Scape Youth Park on Orchard Road, in the middle of Singapore’s shopping district. The custom built basketball court incorporates Singapore YOG design elements. The event will feature 40 national youth teams from every region of the world, and will include demonstrations, contests, music and role models from the ranks of the professional basketball world.

Starting on 14th August, 40 teams of young basketball players from 38 countries will come together in Singapore to fight for the gold medals in the first edition of the men and women’s YOG basketball tournaments in its FIBA 33 format.

The court was custom built for FIBA by Connor Sport Court International of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, a world leader in basketball court construction whose indoor and outdoor courts have been approved by FIBA for over 15 years.

3on3 and YOG

3on3 basketball is inspired by several forms of streetball played all around the world. In this exciting format, which encourages the players to express themselves on court with displays of skill and trickery, two teams of three players face off on a standard half-court.

Games are be played in periods of five minutes, with the first team reaching 33 winning the game. If neither team has reached 33 points after the second and final period, the team with the highest score wins the game.

The first-ever Youth Olympic Games — organised by the International Olympic Committeee — will be celebrated in Singapore August 14-26. They are a version of the regular Olympic Games, with a focus on young people 14-18. Like the regular Olympic Games, they will be held every four years.

The number of participating athletes will be approximately one third of that they are during the regular Olympic competitions. There will be the same number of sports, but fewer disciplines and events. The international federations have been asked to make their events even more appealing to young people, and a great emphasis will be made for the participating athletes to participate in the cultural and educational aspects if the YOG.

Apart from the competitions, there will be workshops on nutrition, healthy life-style, the environment and the fight against drugs in sports. Participants will be encouraged to become ambassadors in their own countries and to convey the key Olympic messages such as no discrimination on the grounds of race, religion or color.

FIBA