It would be a battle between China and the Philippines on who will be hosting the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
China is holding ground for their existing world-class infrastructure and experience in hosting major sports events, like the 2008 Olympics and the 2014 Guangzhou Asian Games. Meanwhile, the Philippines is known for their passion towards the sports. They even received the Most Valuable Fan (MVF) award in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain last year.
According to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Manuel V. Pangilinan even if the Chinese are formidable competitors, the love of the Filipinos for basketball will stand out.
"I must say that China is a formidable competitor in this bid and at least from one perspective, the hardware of the event. Someone commented that this will be both a sporting event and a media event, from the perspective of the sporting event, it’s a question of facilities, infrastructure, organization, the ability to put it together. China has done it that has never been done in this country," said Mr. Pangilinan.
"We do have to meet the certain and basic minimum requirements of FIBA. With regard to facilities, I think we can do it. Beyond that, it’s a media event as well. I don’t have a window of how they will actually decide the matter of the bids. They will certainly look at the hardware of the bids, as well as the "heartware", which in Filipinos’ words their pure, undeniable love for basketball. I don’t think China had that. I think the no. 1 popular sport in China is football while in the Philippines, no. 1 really is basketball."
The bid presentation will be held on August 7 in front of the FIBA Central Board who will decide whose country will be given the hosting rights for the 2019 event.
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