2017 FIBA Open  -  Saturday 17 June
20/06/2017
House of Basketball
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The FIBA Open 2017 - A success exceeding expectations


MIES - The third edition of the FIBA Open took place this past weekend and its success exceeded all expectations.

No fewer than 142 teams and more than 550 players competed over the course of the two-day event, with an estimated 2,500 spectators on hand to celebrate basketball.

The record number of participants and visitors made the third edition of the event - the biggest grassroots basketball event in Switzerland - all the more special.


An atmosphere of fun and joy was present throughout the weekend

"There was a friendly, family-like and chilled-out atmosphere," said Xavier Lopez, a member of the team 'The Doodle'. "I rarely saw an organization able to achieve this. My partner, who had never experienced this kind of event before, told me how much she enjoyed it after watching the children's games, the animations, the level of play in the Open category... Congratulations for this complete success!" 

This year, the event was fortunate to have Swiss international and NBA player Clint Capela as its ambassador. His presence on Sunday rejoiced everyone present as he took the time to sign autographs and pose for photos with his fans, while also watching the finals with great interest.


Clint Capela spends time with his fans

"One of the main missions of the IBF is integration. In this respect, we invited teams of migrants to participate in the tournament," said Florian Wanninger, Director of FIBA's Foundation (IBF), the organizer of the event. "I was particularly pleased to see the good integration of the three teams present."

Marco Lapaire, who accompanied these migrant teams during the event expressed his gratitude for "the excellent sportsmanship displayed by the participants and the perfect mastery of the referees."

In the same spirit, the event featured four teams from the Special Olympics movement who took part in demonstration games.

"[It was] A simple gesture that has a huge impact on the basketball players, their coaches and their families who felt completely respected," said Xavier Blanc, Head of Special Olympics Suisse Romande.


In its third edition, the FIBA Open featured both migrant and Special Olympic teams for the first time

"I am extremely pleased with how the third edition of the FIBA Open unfolded," said Michel Bendayan, Manager of the FIBA Open. "Of course there are still some areas that we can improve on, but our aim was for people to take joy in participating in an event that highlighted respect and integration and this aim was achieved."