The prominent setting of Islote de Fermina hosted this Tuesday the press conference for the presentation of the FIBA 3x3 Lanzarote Challenger 2024. With the presence of local authorities, federations and basketball figures, the event was highlighted as one of the most important sporting events of the year. This tournament, official of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), will take place in Arrecife, specifically in the Parque Islas Canarias, and its objective is to promote sport, responsible tourism and social integration.
The FIBA 3x3 Lanzarote Challenger, which will take place from July 25 to 28, will include grassroots tournaments in which young people and fans can enjoy the sport and professional competitions. In addition, there will be skills contests such as dunks, three-pointers and acrobatics.
This event is characterized by its dynamism and a festive atmosphere that combines sport and urban cultural entertainment, creating an exciting experience for all basketball lovers. With a program that ranges from training sessions for various ages to dance performances and live music, the event promises to be a milestone in the promotion of 3x3 basketball and physical activity on the island.
The presentation of this sporting event was attended by the vice president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Jacobo Medina; the mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, together with other dignitaries such as Juan Monzón, Minister of Sports of the Cabildo de Lanzarote; Héctor Fernández, CEO of the Sociedad de Promoción Exterior de Lanzarote (SPEL); Sergio Castro, delegate of the Canarian Basketball Federation in Lanzarote; the ACB player, businessman and promoter of 3x3, Ferran Bassas, and Marius Gal, general director of Hoopers Under The Rim, who led the presentation.
In addition, the event was attended by Elisabet Merino, Councilor for Sports of the Arrecife City Council, Rosmen Quevedo, Councilor for Youth of the Arrecife City Council; and various media outlets.
After the presentation of the event by Marius Gal, the mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, highlighted the "great dynamizing character that this type of event provides to the capital, which reinforces and enhances Arrecife as a center of sports activities for citizens and visitors."
The Minister of Sports of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Juan Monzón, highlighted the "magnitude" of what the sports days will be and assured "the spectacular background that it will have at a sporting level for young athletes and professionals. Highlighting the participation of teams from different countries, which means a great attraction for Lanzarote."
From a tourist point of view, Héctor Fernández, CEO of SPEL, pointed out the interest for the sector "to create a calendar of events practically weekly as is happening in Lanzarote. Combining a first-class tourist-sports proposal makes our island an attractive destination that transforms the passive dynamics of the tourist into an active attitude."
The delegate of the Canarian Basketball Federation in Lanzarote, Sergio Castro, focused on pointing out the "pride that FIBA has placed its trust in a Canarian company to carry out this type of competition." And he extended the "full collaboration from the federation with this type of initiative, which we hope will be the beginning of many similar ones," he added.
To bring a little closer the essence of what the 3x3 competitions will be, Ferran Bassas, a prominent ACB basketball player, as well as businessman and promoter of the 3x3 style, attended the event, who highlighted "the influence of this emerging sport that is increasingly attracting more interest. It is important to spread this discipline so that it can reach the largest number of people and, thus, we can all enjoy it on the court."
The vice president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Jacobo Medina, concluded the round of interventions pointing out the 3x3 Lanzarote Challenger as an ideal opportunity to become "the epicenter of basketball in the islands." In addition, he stated that "this sports discipline has an undeniable prominence on the island, with a large participation of our young people and distinguished representation in various championships," referring to the clubs of Lanzarote.
Finally, Marius Gal, general director of Hoopers Under The Rim, concluded by thanking all those present, collaborators and sponsors for their attendance, and invited citizens to participate "in an event that will not disappoint anyone and that I am sure will make all basketball lovers enjoy."
