DOHA (Qatar) - The famous Naismith Trophy was a star attraction at the recent Match For Hope Fan Festival in Doha as participants and visitors at the event were given the opportunity to see the coveted FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 prize.
Exhibited by the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Local Organizing Committee and Qatar Basketball Federation in a dedicated Fan Zone area in Place Vendome Mall, it was the first time people in the country had been able to see the Naismith Trophy in a public space ahead of hosting next year's flagship tournament.
Representing an amazing amount of the sport's international history and prestige, there was an understandable desire from those present to get up close and stand proudly next to the iconic Trophy and have a photo taken.
After registering their information, including their favorite team, fans were also able to take a quiz that gave them the chance to earn tickets to one of Qatar's upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers against India or Saudi Arabia.
The Match for Hope Fan Festival ran for eight consecutive days, with the annual charity football accompanied by the exciting new basketball activation as the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Local Organizing Committee and Qatar Basketball Federation joined forces with Qatar's International Media Office (IMO) and Education Above All Foundation (EAA) to create a unique basketball fan engagement experience.
In addition to enjoying the presence of the Naismith Trophy, fans were able to test their skills playing on a 3x3 basketball court, were given access to coaching from Qatar National Team technical staff and also enjoyed an array of shooting contests to land prizes.
The Match For Hope Fan Festival initially also tipped off with performances from school teams that participated at the Mini World Cup, and also a visit by Qatar’s National Women's basketball team. Furthermore, there was a 3x3 All-Star Game on January 28 as Lebanon and Qatar National Team Players went up against streetball legends and famous content creators.
"In 2027, Qatar will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup, the greatest basketball tournament in the world," said Qatar Basketball Federation President, Mohammed Saad Al-Meghaiseeb.
"We always envisioned an event that is much more than only sport. The International Media Office (IMO) has created a unique charity match with Education Above All Foundation (EAA), providing education to the young people who are deprived of this right. We are honored that this year we are part of this great initiative, adding the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 experience to the Fan Festival.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 will see 32 teams from around the globe battling it out to be crowned champions. Taking place from August 27 to September 12, the winners of the 2027 competition will be handed the iconic Naismith Trophy and have their names added to an incredible list of previous winners. FIBA