On November 2, Beijing time, FIBA officially announced the direct qualification list for the Paris Olympics 3x3 basketball event. The Chinese men's and women's 3x3 basketball teams successfully advanced to the 2024 Paris Olympics, ranking third and first in total points, respectively. The spotlight turned to the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Tour Wuxi Masters, the first international event after the Olympic qualification announcement.
From November 4−5, a total of 13 top 3x3 basketball clubs from around the world gathered in Wuxi. Officials from the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), including Guo Zhenming, Secretary of the CBA’s Party Committee, Tu Meng, Secretary-General of the CBA, and Xu Lan, Deputy Secretary-General of the CBA, as well as Chai Wensheng, Executive Director of the National Team Construction Committee and Team Leader of the 3x3 Basketball National Team, were all present to witness the event. In the final, Paris from France, defeated Ub Huishan NE from Serbia with a score of 22:11 to claim the championship. Yao Ming, Chairman of the CBA, attended the final in person and presented the championship trophy to the winning team.
The 3x3 basketball event officially became an Olympic competition at the Tokyo Olympics, and compared to traditional events, it is in the early stages of development in terms of procedural formation, talents, and training preparation, bringing various challenges for this sport. This event received significant attention from the CBA’s leadership and is of great importance to the development of 3x3 basketball in China. On the day of the final, Yao Ming attended the signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation agreement between the CBA and the Wuxi Municipal People's Government. The two sides agreed on a strategic cooperation to build the Wuxi Training Base for the Chinese 3x3 Basketball National Team, the Chinese 3x3 Basketball Strategic Research Center, the 3x3 Basketball Event Center, and a Youth Basketball Culture Development and Exchange Center.
The successful hosting of this event received support from the Wuxi government, local enterprises, and the assistance of the national energy drink brand, War Horse. As the top sponsor and official designated energy drink of the tournament, War Horse not only provided healthy energy supplements to athletes and staff but also offered exclusive benefits to supporters and basketball fans.
During the event, War Horse recruited and organized the "War Horse Basketball Apprentice Energy Spectator Group" through multiple online platforms, receiving enthusiastic responses from fans nationwide. Led by basketball expert Yang Ce, known as "Russell Westbrook of Shanghai University of Sports," passionate basketball enthusiasts from across the country gathered in Wuxi to watch the exclusive event and cheer for the Chinese players.
In addition to watching on-site, the "War Horse Basketball Apprentices" also enjoyed an opportunity that made other fans envious. They interacted with experts invited by War Horse on FIBA's high-standard court. At the War Horse "Energy Supply Station," they wrote words of encouragement and blessings for Chinese 3x3 basketball on the blessing wall. The enriching itinerary resembled a carnival of 3x3 basketball, allowing everyone to experience the charm of this sport. Each member enjoyed themselves, expressing their commitment to paying more attention to and participating in this sport in the future, wishing Chinese 3x3 basketball greater success at the Paris Olympics.
Looking back at the arduous journey of the national 3x3 basketball teams to qualify for the Olympics, it has been exceptionally challenging. The 3x3 men's team had participated in 66 international events (Masters, Challengers, Super Quests, Nations League, and other tournaments) in more than 20 countries, a journey they dubbed the "Wandering Earth Plan." Qualifying for the Olympics is just the beginning for Chinese 3x3 basketball. Faced with the gap in strength compared to international high-level teams and the support available at mature events, the Olympic preparations for Chinese 3x3 basketball require assistance and support from various levels to achieve breakthrough results at the Paris Olympics.
As a national energy beverage brand, War Horse has been actively involved in the basketball field, serving as the top partner for the CUBAL, the highest-level campus basketball competition in China, and the official sponsor of the CBA, the national basketball league. Additionally, War Horse has introduced the original basketball IP, "War Horse Basketball Academy," supporting university players like Wang Lanqin and Zou Yang to enter professional leagues, along with War Horse's ever consistent support to the development of basketball in China.
With the opportunity presented by the Chinese 3x3 basketball teams entering the Paris Olympics, War Horse will continue to provide comprehensive support for the development of Chinese basketball. By continuously empowering young people who love basketball and every dream chaser of basketball, War Horse strives to sow the seeds of energy for a brighter future for Chinese basketball.
