There are only 355 days left with the 2019 Basketball World Cup. In the afternoon of yesterday (Sept. 9), the one year count down of 2019 International FIBA Basketball World Cup and the unveiling ceremony of count down clock was held in Foshan. After Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan and Shenzhen, Foshan became the sixth city to start the count down clock of 2019 International FIBA Basketball World Cup.

At the ceremony, with the electronic signs in the center of the stage drawing back, the count down clock in Foshan area was unveiled and officially started. Meanwhile, Frank Linders, Media and Marketing Director of FIBA awarded the host city plaque to Foshan Competition Area Committee.

Frank Linders said that since the acquisition of the right to hold 2019 International FIBA Basketball World Cup, FIBA, Competition Committee, host cities, local government and related departments have been working closely together to make this Basketball World Cup a memorable basketball grand event and have achieved many milestone results. He affirmed the progress of every preparation work in Foshan area, especially the construction of the new venue. “On behalf of FIBA, here I extend gratitude to the great effort made by Foshan competition area. Next summer, Foshan will show the best image to the whole world with the medium of basketball.”

Foshan will co-hold the 2019 International FIBA Basketball World Cup with Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan. Liu Junwen said that so far all preparation work in Foshan competition area is going on orderly. The main venue, Foshan International Sports Culture Performance Hall is basically finished. Foshan will spare no effort to support all kinds of venue services and competition security works so as to fulfil this task successfully.

During the event, Liu Kejun, vice president of World Cup Organizing Committee, standing deputy secretary general, vice president of Chinese Basketball Association announced that CBA star Yi Jianlian would become the image ambassador of 2019 International FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The 2019 International FIBA Basketball World Cup will be held in 8 Chinese cities from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15 in 2019. As one of the eight competition areas, Foshan will hold 6 group competitions and 4 stage II entering competitions. On Dec. 2 this year, the men’s basketball match of World Cup Asian Preliminary between China and Lebanon will be held in Foshan International Sports Culture Performance Hall.