Youth Basketball: “Soft power” sports

        Thailand is preparing to set the stage for international youth basketball competitions by announcing the launch of the International Youth Basketball Tournament 2023 (INTERNATIONAL YOUTH BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2023), which will be held for the first time in Thailand between 8 and 11 April 2023 at King’s College International School in Bangkok, to provide opportunities for international basketball competitions for youth from Thailand and countries around the world, with the use of world-class facilities.

       More than 800 youth basketball players from 72 teams from around the globe are expected to compete in this competition. Teams will be divided into three groups of male and female athletes; the age groups are under 13 years old, under 15 years old, and under 17 years old, with five players per team, adhering to international rules and guidelines for the five-person basketball competitions of Jr. NBA (Jr. NBA guidelines), so that all of the athletes will have time to play on the court.

        The International Youth Basketball Tournament 2023 also helps to promote tourism in Thailand because athletes from all over the world will spend their leisure time before and after the competition traveling to various locations, which is considered a combination of sports and tourism.