Basketball Ireland welcomes Sport Ireland funding towards 3x3 international programme

Basketball Ireland welcomes the receipt of €200,000 through Sport Ireland's Performance Development Programme Funding. This funding will go towards Basketball Ireland's 3x3 international team programme, which has demonstrated huge progress over the last number of years. 

Ireland’s 3x3 men's team played in the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup for the first time last year, winning their qualifying event. Their achievements also saw the team nominated for ‘Team of the Year’ at the 2025 Olympic Sports Awards. 

Ireland’s women's team will be playing in the FIBA 3x3 Women's World Series for the third year in succession, while there will be Irish teams competing in the FIBA 3x3 Nations League at U23 and U21 level for the first time this summer. All of these events will improve Ireland's standing in the FIBA World Rankings, which will in turn increase our chances of qualifying for major tournaments, such as FIBA 3x3 World Cup and 3x3 Olympic qualifying events.

Matthew Hall, Basketball Ireland Senior Technical Officer, said: "I'd like to thank Sport Ireland, the Government, Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Minister Charlie McConalogue and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for their support of Basketball Ireland's 3x3 international programme. Basketball Ireland have put a lot of emphasis on 3x3 over the last number of years and it has reaped tangible rewards, with our international teams achieving positive results on the court. 3x3 as a format is a realistic route for Irish basketball to compete at the Olympic Games and this funding will help us to try and achieve that goal."

Hall added: “The popularity of 3x3 has increased immensely in Ireland and to assist with the growing appetite for the game Basketball Ireland recently announced a partnership with ForeFront Group, to help the delivery of our domestic 3x3 events across Ireland.”

About 3x3

3x3 basketball is one of the fastest-growing formats of the game globally and has become a key driver for participation and player development in Ireland. The sport is played on a half-court with three players per team. It has rapidly expanded through a global network of tournaments and has been a hugely popular addition to the Olympic Games, since its introduction in Tokyo 2020. 

About Basketball Ireland: 

Basketball Ireland is the National Governing Body for the sport of basketball on the island of Ireland. Part of FIBA, the World Governing body, Basketball Ireland is responsible for the promotion and administration of basketball throughout Ireland and for Irish international participation. For more information visit https://ireland.basketball/ 

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