Lots of news surrounding China yesterday. FIBA announced a long-term deal with Wanda, via its subsidiary Infront Sports & Media, that will see Wanda serve as the federation’s worldwide exclusive partner for the sale and marketing of the worldwide sponsorship and licensing rights. The deal runs through 2033 and includes the FIBA Basketball World Cups and their Qualifiers, the Men’s and Women’s Continental Cups and their Qualifiers, as well as the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups and Youth World Championships. The partnership will see the creation of FIBA Marketing, focused on supporting FIBA in further developing the awareness and value of national team basketball on a global basis, with an emphasis on China.

“This strategic partnership is of significant importance to FIBA,” said Patrick Baumann, FIBA Secretary General. “It is another tangible result of FIBA’s ambitions to accelerate the growth by unlocking the true potential of national team basketball, bringing the game to a new level globally and tapping into emerging markets in Asia, Americas and Africa. With our new event schedule and an eagerly anticipated FIBA Basketball World Cup in China coming up, it is the right time to initiate a long-term strategic collaboration with a partner that shares our vision for basketball and is ready to make significant efforts to see it through.”