FIBA Basketball U19 World Championship For Men In Auckland Takes Another Major Step Forward

An event which promises to be one of the sporting highlights of the year in New Zealand has taken another major step forward with the announcement of ticket sales for the 2009 U19 FIBA World Championship for Men to be held in Auckland 2-12 July.

Sixteen teams from around the world including the basketball strongholds USA, Argentina, Croatia, Australia, Greece and Spain will take part in 62 matches with up to 300 athletes and more than 60 officials expected to attend, along with numerous official FIBA delegates and around 100 player scouts.

Ticket prices start at $7 for children and $15 for adults with a variety of packages available as well. Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketek outlet, at the website www.ticketek.co.nz, at the venues or by phoning 0800 842 538.

There is also a call out to those wanting to join the event as volunteers. Around 280 volunteers are required in various positions from drivers to ushers, score bench assistants and many other roles. Those wanting to volunteer can download the form off the official website.

“The 2009 U19 FIBA World Championship for Men is making giant strides and will be an amazing event, especially in the fact it will be showcasing basketball talent from 16 different nations with many players set for future NBA contracts. A basketball event of this magnitude has not been held in the Southern Hemisphere before and it is a great coup that it is being played in the Auckland region.

“With tickets now available and a push for volunteers the event is progressing well. The challenge is to convince Kiwis of just how big an event this is going to be in the context of sport in New Zealand and around the world. I firmly believe this event will exceed all expectations and leave a lasting legacy for the sport and the country,” says U19 World Championship Event Director, Dave Mee.

The ninth FIBA U19 World Championship for Men will be held at the North Shore Events Centre and ASB Stadium, Kohimarama. It is the third largest basketball event in the world - only the FIBA Men’s and Women’s World Championships are larger.

Around the globe the event is recognised as the breeding ground for future global basketball stars with many of today’s well known players such as Vince Carter (United States), Luis Scola (Argentina), Pau Gasol (Spain), Andrei Kirilenko (Russia) and Australian Andrew Bogut having played in previous tournaments, showing all their skills and passion from an early age.

It is the first time New Zealand has hosted a Basketball World Championship and also the first time it has been held in the Southern Hemisphere. The Junior Tall Blacks (New Zealand U19 men’s team)will be competing at the FIBA U19 World Championship for the first time

Live television coverage of three matches per day plus all New Zealand games and the quarters, semis and finals has been scheduled for Sky Television.

Local supporters of the event are Auckland City Council, North Shore City Council, Major Events New Zealand, SPARC, Tourism Auckland. Sky City Hotels is the official accommodation.


www.newzealand2009.fiba.com