THE local organizing committee of the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup declared that they are already 98 percent ready for the country’s hosting of the event that will start on August 25 and will run until September 10.
PH hosting of 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup update
Ramon Suzara, the chief implementer and master planner of the country’s hosting, made the assessment following the conclusion of the inter-agency meeting on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Philippines will be the main host of the Fiba Basketball World Cup as well as the World Congress where all major leaders of the sport will be attending.
“I would say that after the meeting, we are 98 percent ready especially in all the venues,” said Suzara. “All the traffic management plan, competition venues at the Philippine Arena, MOA Arena and Smart-Araneta Coliseum are in place. All hotels are in place including the World Congress at Sofitel.”
Suzara said the three venues are already ready with only the minor details are being ironed out in order for the LOC to complete its preparations for the hosting.
“Normally, in any sporting event, the two percent are the finishing touches when you move in, setting up the tables, chairs, the brandings, these are the two percent. But the venue itself is ready. There’s a lot of renovations at the Araneta Coliseum, some changes in the lights at MOA Arena, and Philippine Arena. These are the finishing touches,” said Suzara.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann said it has provided the financial assistance worth P1 billion for the country’s hosting, and coordinated with government agencies for other concerns such as traffic, infrastructure, and shipments for the Fiba event such as backboards, flooring, and television equipment.
“A hundred percent now of the funding of government is with the Fiba LOC already. Ang hinihintay na lang natin is ‘yung liquidation after the event,” said Bachmann.
Bachmann said the PSC is also preparing for the Philsports Arena and Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which will serve as the practice venue of the teams.
Deputy event director Erika Dy, meanwhile, said a traffic plan will be tested for the Philippine Arena game on August 25 for the smooth flow of the delegates and fans who will attend the game.
The LOC already said that the traffic flow to and from the Philippine Arena is one of its major concerns.
“We’ve been sitting in with a lot of pocket meetings with the NLEX group, the MMDA, and the traffic agencies. There is a lot of plans on deck. We have decided on one plan that we would like to simulate again probably during the next concert at the Philippine Arena so that we can test this,” said Dy.
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