Erick Thohir Welcomes FIBA World Cup 2023 in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - FIBA Board Member, Erick Thohir, said that Indonesia is ready to welcome international basketball players for FIBA World Cup 2023 in Jakarta. The competition is scheduled to take place on August 25 to September 3, 2023.

Not only the organizers, Indonesia also prepared the 16,000-capacity Indonesia Arena, an indoor stadium located in Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan.

"In a month, Indonesia will have the world's attention since we will hold the FIBA World Cup 2023. We have a newly polished indoor stadium and the defending champion, Spain, will play here," said Erick in a written statement on Friday, July 21, 2023.

"Meaning, we have to ready ourselves to be a good host so we could boost Indonesia's name," said Erick Thohir during his dinner with the ambassador of competing countries in Jakarta, on Thursday, July 20, 2023.

The dinner was attended by five representatives of the eight competing countries, namely the Spain Ambassador for Indonesia Francisco Aguilera Aranda, Charge d'Affaires of the Lebanon Embassy Vazken Kavlakian, Charge d'Affaires of the Iran Embassy Mahdi Rounagh, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Brazil Embassy Lindolpho Cademartori, and Charge d'Affaires of the Canada Embassy Mark Strasser. 

"I sense a  high enthusiasm from the competing countries' representatives. They are ready to enliven Indonesia Arena while their team plays. This is one in a four-year event," said Erick.

Erick was accompanied by Raffi Ahmad, the local ambassador of FIBA World Cup 2023, the Chief of the Joint Management Committee FIBA World Cup 2023 Cahyadi Wanda, dan Deputy Secretary General of Perbasi Rufiana. He asked sports enthusiasts to refrain from missing this opportunity to witness the actions of world-class basketball players.

"This is a rare chance. Even if we become the host country along with Japan and Phillippine, the moment to become the FIBA World Cup host country is not guaranteed for the next 10 or even 20 years. Similar to our experience being the host country for the 2018 Asian Games or when we hold the U-17 FIFA World Cup. This is a chance for us to show Indonesia's development," he said.

There are 32 competing countries in the 2023 Fiba World Cup which will be held in Indonesia, Japan, and the Phillippine. Jakarta will host the qualification round of two competing groups, namely Group G consisting of Spain, Iran, Ivory Coast, and Brazil; and Group H consisting of Canada, Latvia, Lebanon, and France.

The list of NBA players in Jakarta's FIBA World Cup 2023 matches are:

Group G:

- Brazil: Raul Neto of (Cleveland Cavaliers)

- Ivory Coast: Without NBA players

- Iran: Without NBA players

- Spain: Ricky Rubio (Cleveland Cavaliers), Santi Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies), and 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 ( 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: Without NBA Players

ANTARA

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