The forthcoming FIBA World Cup 2023 is ensuring that its referees are fully prepared through an intensive Pre-Competition Clinic (PCC) scheduled from August 19 to 22 in Quezon City.
Conducted across two venues, namely the Seda Hotel for morning sessions and the Victoria Sports Tower for afternoon sessions, this training initiative is aimed at ensuring that all 44 game officials are in optimal condition, both physically and mentally, with just under a week left before the global sporting event.
Eric Altamirano, who heads the Sports & Competition division of the FIBA Local Organizing Committee (LOC), expressed the committee's expectations, emphasizing that the PCC strives to equip referees with the necessary tools to make accurate and unbiased game calls.
"Through our PCC, we hope that our referees will be equipped with everything they need to call games as correctly and fairly as possible," he said.
In this endeavor, prominent figures like Carl Jungerbrand, the FIBA Head of Refereeing, and Tomas Rimkus, a Refereeing Consultant, will join forces with Altamirano to lead a series of seminars, practice drills, and simulated games.
The collective aim of these activities is to ensure that the game officials are not only physically fit but also mentally attuned for the rigorous three-week-long tournament, which will feature a total of 32 competing teams.
Upon the conclusion of the comprehensive four-day clinic, the assignment of referees to the tournament's venues will be finalized.
Each of the four locations, namely the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and the Philippine Arena in Bulacan (reserved exclusively for the Opening Day), the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, the Okinawa Arena in Japan, and the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, will be manned by a team of 11 referees.
Altamirano conveyed his enthusiasm for the upcoming spectacle and the pivotal role the well-trained referees will play in ensuring the success of the FIBA World Cup 2023, aiming to etch this edition of the tournament into the annals of history.
I, along with the rest of the FIBA LOC, am looking forward to how our well-trained referees will help the FIBA World Cup 2023 go down in history as a record-breaking event," said Altamirano.
For fans eagerly anticipating the FIBA World Cup 2023, the readiness of the referees can be witnessed firsthand by acquiring tickets for games held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum via ticketnet.com.ph and for matches at the SM Mall of Asia Arena through smtickets.com.
