Get ready to see some serious hoops in Copenhagen!
The Danish capital has been chosen to host the 2025 FIBA 3×3 Euros, the biggest international basketball competition following in the wake of the 2024 Olympic Games.
The tenth edition of the event will be held at City Hall Square, where some 1,200 fans will be able to take in the show.
The 3×3 format is a recent discipline, played for the first time in the Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo.
“For everyone who has a love for basketball and for the street, it’s great that we get the European Championship in 3×3 basketball to Copenhagen. And for Copenhagen, it’s a unique opportunity for us to hold a large international sports event in the city’s spaces and combine it with street sports activities that all Copenhageners can participate in,” said Copenhagen mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.
A slam dunk for the city
Playing on a smaller basketball court (15 x 11 meters) with a single hoop, teams compete to reach 21 points or to be in the lead following the end of a 10-minute game.
Players only have 12 seconds to get a shot off, which contributes to a very physical and fast-paced game, much akin to street basketball.
In total, 8 million kroner has been earmarked by the city to host the competition. The organisers and the Danish Basketball Federation expect around 90,000 spontaneous spectators, and they will set up many activities in connection with the event.
In total, 24 teams (12 men’s and 12 women’s) will be competing during three intense days. France’s women and Serbia’s men are the defending champions following title wins in 2022 in Austria.
Copenhagen was also given the opportunity to host Europe Cup qualifiers in 2024. It’s a smaller tournament but it will be a good test ahead of the 3×3 Euros the following year.
