By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
FIBA has confirmed that the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Draw, presented by Wanda, will take place in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,000 spectators at Shenzhen Bay Arena.
Saturday’s star-studded show – headlined by global sporting icon Kobe Bryant, World Cup Ambassador Yao Ming and American best-selling singer/songwriter Jason Derulo – will see a capacity crowd witness first-hand the process to determine the groups and road to crown new world champions on September 15 in Beijing.
The draw is a huge milestone in building up to the first-ever World Cup taking place in China. The 18th edition of FIBA’s flagship competition is set to be the biggest to date, with a record 32 national teams and the games being played across eight cities.
FIBA President Horacio Muratore said: “We’re thrilled that thousands of basketball fans will be packing Shenzhen Bay Arena for the draw. There is so much excitement and anticipation building up ahead of this first-of-its-kind World Cup. Selling all tickets sell out for this milestone event in the build-up to the competition is proof of that. We’re excited that we can offer the fans in attendance – and those watching live on FIBA’s YouTube channel – a lot more than just a draw, with special appearances by Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming and a performance by Jason Derulo.”