Basketball Geelong has won the right to stage Australia’s inaugural FIBA 3x3 qualifying event over the Queens Birthday long weekend June 9 – 11, 2012.

The Geelong event will qualify two teams of four players to play at a world tour qualifying event in Vladivostok, Russia this July. These are the only two teams that will qualify from Australia.

Basketball Geelong also has the opportunity to host Australia’s World Tour qualifying event for the next three years, with our winning teams qualifying to an Asian region Pro Tour Event.

Played preferably outdoors and downtown, 3x3 is a fast and exciting modified format of Basketball. As the name suggests it consists of 3 players on the court per team. The 3x3 Tour is designed to incorporate both the game and a series of events that highlight urban and street culture – from skills challenges to hip hop.

To be staged on the Geelong waterfront, and with subsidiary events making use of both the Geelong Arena and Corio Leisuretime Centre, this will be the only qualifying event to be held in Australia and builds on a surge in 3x3 events in Europe and America over the last 12 months.

Basketball Geelong Chief Executive Officer Andrew Scotford says the pitch is to make Geelong the hub of 3x3 in Australia.

“Our ultimate goal is for Geelong to host a Pro Tour Event in subsequent years when the tour expands from five to seven cities,” Scotford said.

“World Tour events carry significant television and press coverage and would be a major boost to the profile of Geelong.”

Scotford says the attraction and growth in interest for 3x3 Basketball is due to the fact that it is more than just a game.

“The 3x3 tournaments will be augmented by a series of challenges, with shooting, skills and other challenges built into the program,” he said.

“Fans and spectators will not only see amazing basketball and terrific skills competitions, but they can also enjoy music, hip hop and other entertainment, all on centre court.”

“Basketball Geelong wants every participant, elite or junior, local or interstate, to experience Geelong’s waterfront 3x3 experience.”

“This is part of the 3x3 ethos overseas, and we will have multiple medalists, male/female, junior/senior from these skills challenges.”

FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, have in the last 3 months launched both a World Championship and a Pro Tour for 3x3 Basketball. See the results of the 1st ever world qualifier at: http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/FIBA/fibaProg/3on3/p/newsid/51071/arti.html

Five Cities have been selected to host 3x3 Pro Tour Events in 2012. For each Pro Tour Event qualifiers are regionalised. The Australian qualifiers (two teams) head to Vladivostok, Russia, in July.

World Pro Tour Events 2012:

• Sao Paulo, Brazil: 7-8 Jul 
• Vladivostok, Russia: 21-22 Jul 
• New York, USA: 18-19 Aug 
• Istanbul, Turkey: 1-2 Sep 
• Madrid, Spain: 8-9 Sep

World Pro Tour Final:

• Miami, September: 22-23 Sep

The Geelong event will comprise two major components, with more information on www.3x3geelong.com:

World Tour Qualifier:
An elite teams event, by invitation, with prize money, 24 teams will compete for prize money totalling $5000 and the right to advance to the World Tour Event in Russia. Staged completely on two temporary courts on the Geelong waterfront (Richies Boulevard).

Participation Event:
Up to 192 teams will participate in a junior and senior tournament style event held at the Geelong Arena and Corio Leisuretime Centre over 2 days, with finals outdoors at the Waterfront on Monday.

More information on Geelong's 3x3 Tournament and team registrations can be found at 3x3geelong.com