FIBA, the world governing body of basketball, announced a Momorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Beijing Enterprises Group at the 2019 FIBA World Cup Press Conference which was held in Beijing yesterday (28th April).

Under the agreement, Beijing Enterprises Group, as an official partner of FIBA for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, will work together with FIBA to establish a basketball academy in Beijing. The project will be developed and promoted in China and Asia.

As revealed, the academy will be established, developed and operated in accordance with FIBA’s standards. And FIBA will support this new academy with its global network of top coaches and exchange projects. In addition, over the longer term, Beijing Enterprises Group and FIBA will explore ways to bring top level basketball events to Beijing with a view to building an iconic status around it.

At the press conference, a delegation from FIBA and the Chinese Basketball Association also announced that preparatory work has officially commenced and the local organising committe for the 2019 FIBA World Cup has been established.

China will host the 2019 FIBA World Cup in eight Chinese cities, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan and Dongguan.

Proofread by Sean O Diobhilin.