Erick Thohir Ensures Indonesia is Ready to Hold the FIBA ​​World Cup 2023

Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) Board Member, Erick Thohir, ensures that Indonesia, to be precise, Jakarta is ready to host the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023 which will run from 25 August to 3 September 2023.

According to him, the readiness of the organizing committee coupled with the completion of the Indonesia Arena, the largest indoor stadium with a capacity of 16,000 spectators at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK), Senayan, indicates that Indonesia is passionate about staging the basketball world cup.

“In a month, Indonesia will be in the world’s spotlight because it is holding the basketball world cup. We have a new and magnificent indoor stadium, and the defending champion, as well as the first ranking in the basketball world, Spain appears here. This means that we must also be prepared to be a good and successful host so that this event can catapult Indonesia’s name even more,” said Erick Thohir at a dinner with ambassadors from countries that will compete in Jakarta, Thursday (20/7/2023).

Five representatives from eight participating countries attended the banquet, which was held by the Executive Board of the Indonesian Basketball Association (PP Perbasi), namely the Ambassador of Spain, Francisco Aguilera Aranda, Vazken Kavlakian (Charge d’Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy), Mahdi Rounagh (Charge d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy), Lindolpho Cademartori (Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Brazil), and Mark Strasser (Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Canada).

At the banquet, Erick was accompanied by Raffi Ahmad as the local ambassador for the 2023 FIBA ​​World Cup; Chairman of the Joint Management Committee (JMC) FIBA ​​World Cup 2023, Cahyadi Wanda; and Deputy General Secretary of Perbasi, Rufiana

“I caught high enthusiasm from representatives of these friendly countries. They were also impatient and ready to enliven the Indonesia Arena when their country’s teams competed, because after all the basketball world cup is an event every four years with a level similar to the Olympics,” he said.

Erick also asked sports fans, especially basketball, not to miss the great opportunity to witness the action of world basketball stars from various countries. Moreover, there are a number of players who take part in the NBA.

“This is a rare opportunity. Even though we co-host Japan and the Philippines, the moment to host the basketball world cup may not come in 10 or 20 years. Similar to when we hosted the 2018 Asian Games, or later when holding the U-17 FIFA World Cup, this is our opportunity to show Indonesia’s progress in the eyes of the international community,” said Erick.

A total of 32 countries competed in the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup which took place in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines. Jakarta as the host will stage preliminary round matches in two groups, namely Group G which consists of Spain, Iran, Ivory Coast and Brazil, while Group H contains Canada, Latvia, Lebanon and France.

List of NBA Players at FIBA ​​World Cup 2023 Jakarta:

Group G:
– Brazil: Raul Neto (Cleveland Cavaliers)
– Ivory Coast: No NBA players
– Iran: No NBA players
– Spain: Ricky Rubio (Cleveland Cavaliers), Santi Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies), Usman Garuba (Atlanta Hawks)

Group H:
– Canada: Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), RJ Barrett (New York Knicks), Dillon Brooks (Houston Rockets), Lu Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves), Kelly Olynyk (Utah Jazz), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks), Oshae Brissett (Boston Celtics), Cory Joseph (Golden State Warriors).
– France: Frank Ntilikina (Lastly, Dallas Mavericks), Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers), Evan Fournier (New York Knicks), Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)
– Latvia: Kristaps Porzingis (Boston Celtics), Davis Bertans (Oklahoma City Thunder)
– Lebanon: No NBA players

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