SKYCITY Plays Host to FIBA U19 World Basketball Championships

SKYCITY is playing host to over 300 international basketball stars who will take to the court from 2-12 July for the FIBA U19 World Championship for Men. Players will stay at SKYCITY for the duration of the tournament and SKYCITY will become the home of the giants with some players over seven feet tall!

 

This is the first time the southern hemisphere has hosted this globally recognised event which is seen as the breeding ground for future global basketball stars. One of sixteen teams, the New Zealand team will be making their debut in the tournament amongst some of the best basketballing nations including the United States, Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Spain and Australia.

 

SKYCITY are giving the public a chance to meet the players and “Shoot with the Stars” on Sunday 5 July at SKYCITY. Fans can come on down between 11am – 12.30pm and win one of 10 chances to shoot three hoops in a row and win great prizes and there will also be spot prizes on the day. Players will be on hand to sign autographs, show some fancy moves and give some pointers to budding players.

 

Kevin Clayton, SKYCITY Group General Manager Marketing and Events is looking forward to the action, “We’ve got our eye on Dion Prewster, leading the New Zealand team and said to be ‘one to watch’. We encourage fans to come to SKYCITY during the tournament, where they may sight a few players and be one of our lucky customers with a once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot a few hoops with the next generation of basketball stars.”

 

The tournament will feature 62 matches played at the North Shore Events Centre, Takapuna and the ASB Stadium, Kohimarama. FIBA, the world governing body for basketball is an independent association formed by 213 national federations – only volleyball among Olympic sports has more member nations.

 

The official charity of the FIBA U19 World Championships for Men is Heart Children New Zealand. www.newzealand2009.fiba.com