Basketball governing body FIBA has deepened its partnership with Wanda Group for the next three World Cup cycles.
The exclusive partnership will allow Wanda to benefit from marketing rights in a wide range of categories including real estate development, shopping malls, hotels, travel agencies, movie theatres, movie and film production and film studies and amusement and theme parks.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis commented on the deal, which was announced just this year’s Basketball World Cup in China: “Today is a very important day for FIBA, not only because it is the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup but it is also the day of a landmark announcement and celebration of this strategic global partnership extension with the Wanda Group.
“This 12-year extension confirms that Wanda and FIBA together think long-term and share the same vision. With this agreement, Wanda becomes one of the longest partners of FIBA in its 90 years of history.”
The enhanced partnership between FIBA and Wanda will continue to promote the development of basketball worldwide, bringing more top international club competitions to China and also contributing to the development of basketball in China through programs such as the Little Champions initiative.
Wanda Group Chairman, Wang Jianlin added on the extension: “This strategic partnership between the Wanda Group and FIBA will greatly promote the development of basketball globally.
“It will also bring more top international basketball competitions to China and strengthen basketball’s position as the number one team sport in the country and contribute greatly to its development.”
Wanda Sports is the global and exclusive Chinese local partner for more than a dozen world sports organisations, including FIBA, FIFA and IIHF. The group has successfully held a number of world-class sporting events in China.