All set for World Cup start

MANILA, Philippines — No stone is left unturned in preparing for a smooth experience to witness the opening doubleheader of the FIBA World Cup at the Philippine Arena on Aug. 25. Erika Dy, deputy event director of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the FIBA World Cup 2023, said yesterday the pathway is laid out for fans to set what could be a new attendance record in World Cup history.

Dy said 400 buses will be mobilized to transport fans from point to point out of 12 Metro Manila stations, free of charge. The stations will be widely publicized to inform commuters where to pick up their rides. “This should decrease the vehicles going to the Philippine Arena because now, fans can go in P-to-P buses,” said Dy. “We’re also making sure of an easy flow of traffic with dedicated express lanes for our P-to-P buses and of course, buses and vehicles allocated for teams and officials.”

For those going in their own vehicles, Dy said there will be free parking around the venue to take away the delay of paying for tickets. “We’re doing park and ride so no more drop-offs except for those with disabilities and accredited access,” she said. Dy noted that the LOC is manned by a staff of 210 and backstopped by 700 to 1,000 volunteers. Then, there are 52 to 100 personnel doing specific work on a game basis. Dy said the target is to surpass the attendance mark of 32,616 set in the Team USA-Russia Final of the 1994 FIBA World Cup in Toronto. “That’s the record recognized by FIBA,” she said. “There were estimates of 34,000 and 35,000 for the FIBA World Cup Final in 1954 but they’re unverified. Still, whether it’s 32,616 or 34,000 or 35,000, our goal is to bring in over 50,000 for a new record.”

SBP will host the welcome cocktails at the Grand Sunset Pavilion of Sofitel Philippine Plaza on Tuesday and the next day, the induction dinner of the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be held at the Harbor Garden Tent, also at Sofitel Philippine Plaza. The FIBA Central Board and Congress will be convened on Aug. 22-24 at Sofitel.

Only the inaugural twinbill will be staged at the Philippine Arena with the first game featuring Angola against Italy at 4 p.m. and the second presenting Gilas against Dominican Republic at 8 p.m. All other games in the country will be at MOA Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum. Starting the quarterfinals up to the Final, games will be at MOA Arena. Designated practice venues for teams are Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, PhilSports Arena and Meralco Gym. Hotels for teams will be Conrad Manila and EDSA Shangri-La Manila while hotels for FIBA officials and staff will be Novotel and Hilton. Hotel for VIPs and FIBA secretariat will be Sofitel Philippine Plaza. LOC’s objective is to deliver a World Cup that will be recognized as one of the top five premium global sporting events in the 21st century.