FIBA World Cup 2023 Venue ・ Okinawa Along with basketball, the charm of Okinawa is also transmitted with Basketball

Next summer, the world’s largest basketball festival “FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023” will be coming to Okinawa. This is the first time in history that the three countries will jointly hold the event, with the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan as the venues. This is the second World Cup in Japan and the first in Okinawa. As preparations proceeded one year after the event, we talked to two key persons in the tournament, from their thoughts on the event in Okinawa to the basketball situation in Okinawa.

Okinawa becomes the stage of the world

Geneva, Switzerland, December 9, 2017. The Central Board of Directors of FIBA ​​(International Basketball Federation) has decided that the “FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023” will be held in Okinawa. This is the first time that a World Cup-scale world competition will be held in Okinawa. The tournament is scheduled from August 25th to September 10th, 2023, of which 20 qualifying rounds will be held at the Okinawa Arena for 10 days from August 25th to September 3rd.

“We are proud to have the World Cup in Okinawa as a representative of 47 prefectures in Japan, and we want to make Okinawa a” sacred place for basketball, “” said the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023 Japan Organization. Mr. Nobutoshi Higoshi, a director of the committee.

Mr. Higoshi, who is also the managing director of the Okinawa Basketball Association, has been supporting the Okinawa basketball scene for many years. He became the representative of high school basketball Okinawa when he was in the second year of Shuri High School in Okinawa, and after graduating from high school, he was invited by a university in Tokyo but chose to play at a local university. After graduating from college, he formed a basketball team at a local company and played against Tom Hovasse, the current HC (head coach) of the Japan Men’s National Team, at the Emperor’s Cup. Since then, while playing an active role as an instructor, he has contributed to the development of basketball in Okinawa by creating an environment where players who have been scouted at high school or university and have left Okinawa can continue to play basketball while working even if they return to Okinawa.

Okinawa, where the US military base is located, is a land where basketball has been popular since ancient times. Many children have been exposed to basketball since they were little. Kenta Kasahara, Deputy Secretary-General of the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023 Japan Organizing Committee, also came to Okinawa and said, “I feel like I’m looking at a model case for the spread of basketball. I wish I could convey the charm of Okinawa. “

“I am preparing to move to Okinawa from the Organizing Committee to hold the tournament, but I feel that there are many basketball goals in the city when I walk around the city. Near the beach, in a corner of a supermarket, etc. There is a goal in some places, and I often see children and adults enjoying basketball. Sports are familiar other than basketball, for example, near a hotel by the sea, I enjoy jogging and cycling while looking at the beautiful sea. People often see it, and marine sports and baseball are also popular. In 2023, I would like you to enjoy the world’s top level basketball at the World Cup, but Okinawa is open to everyone on the beach side. There are many places that are too attractive, such as the basketball court, so I would like you to pay attention to how to enjoy sports unique to Okinawa. “

The source of Okinawa basketball

It is said that one of the reasons why basketball has penetrated Okinawa is that many households in the central part of the main island of Okinawa were able to receive the radio waves of the United States where the NBA was broadcast, and watching basketball was familiar to them.

“It’s not a Japanese broadcast, but an English TV broadcast. In the past, Okinawa was probably the most familiar with the NBA in Japan. A U.S. military official playing at the basketball court in the base. I used to watch it through the fence. Children imitated it and hung a basketball basket made from a bucket in a corner of the public hall to play. I also practiced with the people involved in the base. There are many children who are good at basketball, “says Mr. Higoshi.

In Okinawa, the mixture of various things is called “chanpuru”, and this champuru culture is also one of the reasons for the penetration of basketball. Mr. Higoshi has always seen him enjoy playing basketball regardless of race.

“When playing basketball on a court in the city, it is natural for both Japanese and foreigners to play together, or to form a team with people on the spot and play games such as 1×1 and 3×3. Immigrants also There are many, and there is no wall because it is “Champuroo”. It was canceled due to the corona disaster, but from the priest of a certain shrine on December 30th at the end of last year, 3 in the precinctsxI was asked to help me because I want to hold 3 tournaments. It’s the year-end and New Year holidays when the shrine is busy. “

The basketball scene in Okinawa is not limited to the streets. “There are many basketball teams in the base such as Air Force (Air Force) and Navy (Navy), and basketball is popular not only on the main island of Okinawa but also on remote islands. There are more than 300 teams in Okinawa prefecture even if it is limited to minibuses. There is, “says Mr. Hietsu. In addition, the “Ryumai Friendship Tournament” where high school students from Okinawa and high school students from the base play basketball games at the base is also unique to Okinawa. And above all, the prefectural character of Okinawa makes the basketball scene even more exciting.

“There are many people who come to cheer for the whole family when there is a basketball game for children because of the prefectural character. Some people enjoy it like a picnic, and some people get excited by three generations of parents and children. I’m also working hard to volunteer for the match. Maybe because I’m touching basketball that much, there’s no wall for the Ryukyu Golden Kings players (laughs). ” The image is that the next brother has become a player, and he seems to be friendly to professional players.

With the decision of the World Cup, the Okinawa Arena, which will be the venue, was completed last year, and the basketball fever is increasing. The Golden Kings game is also known to be enthusiastic. Mr. Higoshi laughed, “I’m afraid of Korona, so the cheers are modest, but I think I really want to cheer by wiping my finger whistle.” It’s a wonderful facility with entertainment because it’s an arena, and above all, the people who visit the arena are shining and smiling. The food court, the production using technology, and the vision are wonderful. “

Through the World Cup, the charm of basketball and Okinawa is also transmitted

As preparations for the World Cup progress steadily, Mr. Kasahara, who is in charge of cooperation with FIBA, coordination with the government including Okinawa Prefecture, and cooperation between host countries with the Philippines and Indonesia, said, “China in 2019. After the inspection of the World Cup held in Okinawa, in addition to the fact that Korona-ka was just about to start in earnest, there are various difficult aspects such as how to proceed with the work of FIBA ​​and the three host countries. We do not think that only the host city of Okinawa should succeed, but we are creating the tournament while bringing together and respecting each other’s wisdom, experience and culture. While holding the world’s best basketball festival in three countries I think it is important not only to make it successful and to convey the charm of Okinawa, but also to make it a meaningful tournament for the venue Okinawa. “

Preparations for the tournament, such as promotion, ticketing, management planning, and marketing, are steadily progressing. In February of this year, a limited sale of tickets for watching all five games of the Japan national team held at the Okinawa venue of the World Cup was sold out in 1 hour and 30 minutes. With FIBA ​​officials planning to visit the Okinawa Arena this month, we will not only prepare for the tournament, but also focus on fostering momentum, such as an event a year ago and general ticket sales scheduled for this summer. Both Mr. Higoshi and Mr. Kasahara have a desire to show the success of the World Cup to children in Okinawa and Japan.

“Since I was asked” How about Okinawa becoming a candidate site “at the stage of attracting, I thought that I would be in great agreement if it would benefit children. It is set in the Okinawa Arena in Okinawa City, but Ishigaki Island and Okinawa includes all remote islands such as Miyakojima, Kumejima, Yonagunijima, and Daitojima. Therefore, I want to show the wonderful World Cup to the children of Okinawa including the remote islands. I hope I can tell you that if you work together, you can do anything. “

Mr. Kasahara also said, “I would like you to come to Okinawa from all over the world to watch the World Cup, but I especially want Japanese people to feel the world play up close, not only for adults but also for children. As I realized at the 2019 World Cup, I was really impressed by the serious competition that the world’s top players represent the country. I want you to think that the cup was in Okinawa ”, and I want to make it a tournament where the excitement of Okinawa permeates all over Japan and leads to the spread of not only basketball but also Ports as a whole.”

And, along with basketball, we intend to convey the charm of Okinawa to the world.

“FIBA and the three host countries have a desire to make this tournament the most exciting tournament in the history of the World Cup, so the Organizing Committee would like to encourage the local community to make it happen. The city of Koza (Okinawa City), where the Okinawa Arena is located, has many foreigners and has an original culture. I want to create a virtuous cycle where you can enjoy various faces of Okinawa that you didn’t know about, “says Mr. Kasahara.

Mr. Higoshi also wants to convey the possibilities of Okinawa to the world more widely.

“I would like you to experience the nature of Yanbaru no Mori, which has become a World Natural Heritage site, in the sea and sky of Okinawa. I also want you to see traditional performing arts such as Sansen and Acer, and Okinawa’s” I want people to come in contact with each other. I’m looking forward to all the customers coming, and Okinawa is friendly to everyone because there are people from various countries. Local children also look back when they wave their hands. It’s coming and it’s so friendly. I feel like “Everyone, come to Okinawa to see the World Cup” (laughs). “

Okinawa shows excitement day by day. Currently, there are fierce battles around the world for World Cup tickets, but next summer, the world’s strongest nations, including the Japanese national team, will gather here. A new Japanese basketball culture is about to blossom, centered on the Okinawa Arena, which is the stage that attracts the world’s attention.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Tournament Official Website (English only)

Official fan club WinForAllTeam (free registration)

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifying Special Site