Philippines Bid Receives Unanimous Government Support for 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup

The Philippines bid for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup has today announced that it has received the full support of all levels of the nation’s Government. The public endorsement underpins the delivery of a tournament that would see a quantum leap for the sport`s showpiece event and stimulate the growth of basketball around the world.

To confirm the Government’s full and unwavering support for the delivery of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, every Philippine Cabinet Secretary has signed a memorandum which outlines the wide-ranging legislatory, financial and operational guarantees the Government is providing to ensure the successful hosting of the tournament.

FIBA has stipulated clear requirements for the delivery of a successful World Cup, which the Philippines bid team has confirmed it will not only meet, but exceed through its world-class venues, facilities, services and unique stakeholder experience.

A Government working group has now been established, forming a key part of the Local Organising Committee that, in association with FIBA is set to manage all aspects of a Philippines-hosted tournament. The group would work throughout the build-up and staging of the event, acting as a key partner for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and ensuring the delivery of a world-class tournament.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, President of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (Basketball Federation of the Philippines), said:

"To host an event of the importance and prestige of a 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, it is essential to have the full support of all levels of Government. The strong backing our bid team enjoys from Government is a significant strength, alongside the partnerships we have already established with the host cities and local sports federations. By bringing together both public and private sectors, we have already been able to deliver world-class infrastructure assets that will benefit the staging of every aspect of the tournament.

"We are proud that the whole country, from the basketball fans to Government to the private sector, is fully behind hosting a FIBA Basketball World Cup which can be truly transformational for the World Cup and the sport."

The Government (Department of Budget and Management) is a key part of the bid team and has already committed a minimum of 4% of GDP in significant infrastructure investments over the next 4 years, increasing to 5% of GDP in 2016 – initiatives that will support the delivery of a memorable World Cup experience.

In advance of establishing the Philippines bid, the public and private sector have worked together to make a number of significant investments and commitments in the development of best-in-class infrastructure assets. State-of-the-art sporting arenas and key infrastructure assets across the country, supported by a strong and stable national economy, provides an exceptional foundation to host a successful 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and will contribute to the delivery of a truly exceptional experience for basketball fans.

The Philippines is confident that hosting the tournament in the country would help FIBA deliver a World Cup that transcends the sport as a global media experience and take basketball to new heights, made possible by uniting the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup with the nation’s passionate enthusiasm for basketball and its status as one of the top two countries in the world for social media use.

In addition to the Government, local sports federations and host cities have also provided guarantees and full support to support the delivery of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The majority of venues are already in place to host events and the Local Organising Committee will be underwritten to ensure its effective management of the tournament.

"The Philippines bid is grounded in a truly public-private partnership. The ongoing commitment of our Government, backed by a deep and diverse support base from the private sector, will help ensure the delivery of a world-class event through access to the very best resources, people and ideas before, during and after the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup," Mr. Pangilinan said.

Over the past 5 years, the Philippines has enjoyed a period of strong economic growth and stability. Its GDP is outpacing the region, ranging from 5.25 to 6.7% per quarter over the past year, and the economy is buoyant and in excellent health. Inflation is on a downward trend and will settle at 2% at the close of 2015.

The host nation for the tournament will be announced by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on 7th August 2015 in Tokyo. You can follow the bid and International Basketball Federation on social media using #PUSO2019 and #FIBA.

For more information, contact:

Daria Chernyshenko

Senior Account Executive, International

T +44 20 7067 0633

M +44 7826 532 394

E dchernyshenko@webershandwick.com

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