ISTANBUL, Turkey (2010 FIBA World Championship) - With 50 days to go before the start of the 2010 FIBA World Championship, FIBA and the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) announced that everything is right on schedule for the biggest international basketball event which is expected to set all kinds of new records.
At a press conference held in Istanbul's Çırağan Palace on Friday, TBF President Turgay Demirel said Turkey is ready and eager to host its most important sports competition to date.
"I first spoke of organising the FIBA World Championship back in 1998. Back then it seemed like a far away dream but global events of this scale take time," he recalled.
"Our country is organising its biggest sporting event. We have had some discussions with FIBA, but everything has been solved."
FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Baumann praised Turkish authorities for their hard work that has made the tournament possible.
"We were initially concerned with arena construction but thanks to the government's support and the good work of the Local Organising Committee, the arenas have been finished in record time," he said.
The level of anticipation for the 2010 FIBA World Championship has been very high and that is reflected in a number of key figures.
"So far 85 percent of the tickets have sold and that is a great sign," Mr Baumann pointed out.
"A record of $100 million has been invested in this tournament. Also, our world-renowned partners and sponsors mirror their support of this great event by accounting for an additional $30 million.
"Right now more than 180 countries will broadcast the games and that number will reach 200 before the event. In 2006, our accumulated TV audiences figure was 800 million viewers and we expect to go over one billion this year."
TBF Secretary General Ali Özsoy further emphasised the sheer magnitude of the FIBA World Championship with figures of his own.
"As expected, media interest in the tournament is setting new records," said TBF Secretary General Ali Ozsoy. "Currently we have 1,900 accredited media members from over 75 countries and we expect to have over 2,500.
"For the first time in Turkey's history, we will have fan zones and we anticipate a daily turnout of 50,000 people at the zones in the four host cities (Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Kayseri)."
The FIBA World Championship will be broadcast in full high-definition production for the first time. All games will be live on www.FIBAtv.com with English language commentary.
The event's website www.turkey2010.fiba.com will be available in four languages (English, Spanish, Turkish and Chinese) and is expected to have over 20 million unique visitors (twice as many as 2006).
For more information contact: Florian Wanninger at communications@fiba.com
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