Innovation, testing, networking at the heart of FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre Partners Summit in Antwerp

MIES (Switzerland) - More than 120 of FIBA's Equipment & Venue Centre partners, accredited test institutes and venue design industry leaders have taken part in the FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre Partners Summit 2022 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Some attended the event, held on June 23 and June 24 in conjunction with the Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022, in person while others participated online.

The Equipment & Venue Centre Partners Summit had multiple objectives for the conference with a strong focus on raising industry standards for safe and high-quality basketball equipment and ensuring that the sharing of updates on rule and regulation changes occurs.

Information about FIBA's marketing and media activities in basketball and 3x3 was presented. Additionally, there was a concerted effort to connect industry sectors across manufacturing, testing, installation and stadium design for innovation.

Among the speakers was FIBA President Mr. Hamane Niang, who summarized FIBA's ambition to grow basketball across all FIBA regions and stressed there was ample opportunity to do so, specifically in Africa.

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis was another who expanded on the objectives. He said: "I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to our partners of the Equipment & Venue Centre. As FIBA continues to build 3x3 and shape club competitions, as well as implementing onsite testing, the importance of using FIBA approved equipment in the competitions will be put in the spotlight.

"With this summit organized in conjunction with the Crelan FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022, it's evident what FIBA 3x3 has to offer: an extensive global network of federations, events and promoters, as well as a young and urban-centered audience which the equipment suppliers can leverage and target for enhancing product visibility."

Bart Prinssen, Head of FIBA's Equipment & Venue Centre, said: "We make it a mission of the FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre to facilitate the growth and innovation across basketball equipment, facilities and venue sectors. At this summit, we clearly see the many synergies being created between partners. For example, it makes clear business sense to connect the data of FIBA Approved equipment installed at each venue to the database of Courts of the World that allows anyone to find a court, indoor or outdoor, at their fingertips."

FIBA presented to the summit participants how the Equipment & Venue Centre testing program supports the implementation of the newly introduced Onsite Testing to ensure all FIBA competitions will have safe and compliant backstop units, scoreboard, and flooring. 

For the first time, the summit stage was shared with FIBA's Equipment & Venue Centre Partners to present new product approvals and discover synergies between partners. The next cycle of 2024 to 2027 presents a window of opportunity for the traditional equipment suppliers, who remain the backbone of the Equipment & Venue Centre, and new approved categories, such as basketball training products, software, 3x3 equipment categories to connect the dots of innovation together.

FIBA