3×3 basketball returned to NEOM Beach Games this week with the hosting of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour NEOM 2024.
Thrilling final matches, which feature a single hoop and three players on each side, saw Team Miami triumph in the Men’s Tournament and Bahrain’s Al Zallaq come out on top in the Women’s Cup. The competition drew large crowds at the Beach Games Hub to witness the finalists secure their well-earned victories.
FIBA 3×3 World Tour NEOM 2024 at NEOM Beach Games featured 16 teams, including returning Men’s teams; Amsterdam, Hangzhou and Plunge. The presence of recent Olympic gold medallists Worthy De Jong, Dylan Travis and Frank Seguela brought an increased competitive edge to the event. Four Saudi Arabia men’s teams, AlUla, Dammam, Jeddah, and Makkah, also made a notable appearance, adding to the dynamic atmosphere of this international showdown.
NEOM Sport’s Managing Director, Jan Paterson, remarked, “Since its debut at the first NEOM Beach Games in 2022, the FIBA 3×3 competition has grown from a Super Quest event to last year’s Challenger, and now to this year’s World Tour – the pinnacle of 3×3 basketball. This progression reflects NEOM’s commitment to hosting and showcasing world-class sporting events with the support of international partners, and fostering a dynamic community around basketball.”
She added: “The success of this year’s FIBA 3×3 competition reinforces NEOM’s role in driving Saudi Arabia’s growing passion for basketball. By providing a platform for local talent, we aim to inspire the next generation of players and support the nation’s sporting ambitions in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”
The NEOM Beach Games also saw strong women’s representation from Saudi Arabia, with Jeddah and Riyadh teams stepping onto the court. Following their remarkable success in Manama, where Riyadh made history by winning the Kingdom’s first international 3×3 women’s trophy, they continued to impress by reaching the semi-finals. Jeddah excelled throughout the competition, finishing as the cup runner-up after a close match against Al Zallaq.
Alexander Sanchez, FIBA 3×3 Managing Director, also commented: “We are thrilled to return to NEOM for this year’s Beach Games as an official stop on the FIBA 3×3 World Tour. Serving as the sixteenth stop in this season’s tour and our sixth event in Saudi Arabia, this marks a new chapter in our shared commitment to elevate 3×3 basketball across the region.”
NEOM Beach Games continues from November 11 with NEOM IFSC Masters, a three-day sport climbing contest that will see 93 of the world’s finest climbing athletes take on speed climbing and bouldering in NEOM’s spectacular mountain landscape.
