SME-Coverage/Samir Bou Saad
The Abu Dhabi World Masters Basketball Triathlon Championship 2023, organized by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in cooperation with the International Basketball Federation, will begin tomorrow, Saturday, October 28, and will be held in the vicinity of Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, over the course of the 28th and 29th of this month, with the participation of 14 teams including An elite group of the most skilled and prominent triple-basketball players in the world. The International Triple Basketball Federation and Wilson Sports Industries unveiled the official tournament ball, “The Road to Paris,” during the press conference held at the tournament court in the vicinity of Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, which was attended by H.E. Arif Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Ignacio Sorian, Events and Partnerships Officer at the International Basketball Federation, Norris Mises, Olympic champion and Beijing team player, and Ben de la Cruz, Basketball Product Manager at Wilson.
The new design of the championship ball, inspired by the city, comes after cooperation between the International Basketball Federation and Wilson Sports Industries. The “Road to Paris” ball, which was manufactured by Wilson with great care, reflects the vibrant streets of Paris and its distinguished landmarks, as the design expresses the lines of… The rotunda of Notre Dame Cathedral, the diamond-like pyramid of the Louvre, and the architectural genius of the Pompidou Centre. Wilson’s patented Wave Triple Threat technology also ensures players have an ideal level of ball control, making it the right ball for the fast-paced nature of three-point basketball. The technology provides 24 additional lines to the ball, giving players greater ability to control the ball, regardless of the type or conditions of the court, and this ball, which is a symbol of urban basketball culture, will take its central position in all three-way basketball matches up to the Olympic Games. For his part, New His Excellency Arif Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, welcomed the 14 teams participating in the tournament, wishing everyone success in presenting an ideal version in the city of Al Ain for the first time.
Al-Awani pointed out that it is expected that the competitions between elite three-way basketball players will be intense and exciting over the course of two full days, noting that the organizing committee decided that entry would be free for fans wishing to follow the tournament’s qualifying competitions for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Al-Awani concluded by saying: “It is New…Abu Dhabi proves its ability to host the largest international sporting events thanks to its distinguished infrastructure, in addition to the confidence of international federations and close relations with them.”
On this occasion, Alex Sanchez, Managing Director of the International Triple Basketball Federation, said: “We would like to express our happiness in cooperating with Wilson, by presenting a true embodiment of urban basketball through the “Road to Paris” ball. We are confident that this ball, which expresses Capturing the essence of the streets and landmarks of Paris, it will impress and appreciate players and fans, and will push energy and performance to unparalleled levels.” For his part, Ben de la Cruz, Wilson Basketball Product Manager, said: “This partnership reflects innovation at its finest. It brings together “The spirit of Paris and advanced technology, to create a symbol of distinguished basketball culture.”
Beijing Olympic champion Naoris Mises said: “It is great to be here again in Abu Dhabi and this time in Al Ain. It is a really important week for me and the team and we know that we have to play our best because there are so many great players here.” It is worth noting that the tournament begins this weekend at exactly two o’clock in the afternoon UAE time, and attendance is free, and seats are chosen according to arrival.
