DOHA (Qatar): FIBA 3×3 Head of Events and Partnerships Ignacio Soriano felt that the FIBA World Tour Doha Masters is an opportunity to prove that 3×3 is secure and can be played with safety.
The two-day high-profile event is starting here on Friday.
Soriano shared his thoughts on the event in an interview with Qatar Basketball Federation team at the latter’s headquarters at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall here on Wednesday.
As a global organizer how has Covid-19 affected your organization of 3×3?
We went from 15 World Tour Masters to 5, we had Olympics postponed to 2021, as well as Olympic Qualifying Tournaments… Plus all grassroots activities worldwide.
What has FIBA learnt from the pandemic?
We need to continue working and use this as an opportunity to prove that 3×3 is secure and can be played with safety. This will be our 4th World Tour Masters.
Pre-Covid Doha will be hosting the first leg of World Tour. What’s your take on this?
Doha had initially scheduled WT for just when Covid appeared. However, 3×3 is flexible compared to other sports and here we are, hosting the initially planned 3×3 event from April on November.
What is so special about Doha for World Tour particularly during these times?
We (QOC, QBF and FIBA) are anxious to prove the basketball and sport community that sport events can still be played complying with all health protocols.
FIBA recently organized 3 Masters within 7 days. What was the reason?
We wanted to create a sanitary bubble and it made no sense not just for 2 days, which is the length of a Masters. The investment was just too big to just do 1.
How much of a relief was it for FIBA to commence the World Tour?
Big relief, and we have been used by the International Olympic Committee as an example of federations getting back to activity amid Covid pandemic.
