Odense to welcome NBA's global basketball tour NBA 3X in August

The Danish city of Odense will host the NBA 3X event ©NBA 3x

Danish city Odense is set to welcome the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) global basketball tour NBA 3X, which will see 3-on-3 competitions and an interactive fan experience held at the Odense Hayneplads next Saturday and Sunday (August 8 and 9).

Hosted in association with Sport Event Denmark, the event will be the first of its kind in the country and will feature top talent from the NBA and an additional event is also set to be held in the city during 2016.

“We are thrilled to be holding NBA 3X in Denmark for the first time,” said Benjamin Morel, NBA Europe, the Middle East and Africa senior vice-president and managing director.

“We invite fans to come to Odense to enjoy an authentic NBA experience where they can play in a competitive 3x3 tournament, and take in the sights and sounds of the NBA.”

Teams are now being invited to register for the competitive competitions, with 72 teams due to take part across eight categories, including an male division open adult category event which will feature 16 teams.

Additionally under-14, 16 and 18 boys’ competitions are set to be, in addition to over and under-16 girls divisions, while a mixed division under-12 and wheelchair basketball tournaments are also scheduled to take place.

While the adult event will feature 16 teams, all other categories will see eight competing squads, which will be made up of either three or four players.

Top NBA stars have appeared at previous events of the global basketball tour NBA 3X ©AFP/Getty Images

“The NBA 3X in Odense for the first time is huge,” said Lars Lundov, chief executive of Sport Event Denmark.

“It is also great because we are talking about an NBA 3X 3x3 basketball tournament which can help make a foundation for the very important work to expose young people to sport.”

In addition to the competitive tournaments there will be a variety of different activities for fans to enjoy, with a street sport event due to be held on Friday (August 7) at Vollsmose Torv, with NBA talent due to attend and take part in on-court contests and autograph sessions.

The event will also feature music and live DJ’s with NBA merchandise set to be given away as prizes, as well as including NBA mascot appearances.

“The NBA is one of the biggest brands in sports,” said Anker Boye, Mayor of Odense.

“Succeeding in having them come to our city is in part the result of the large amount of work Odense puts into this specific area, but it also has to do with our close cooperation with Sport Event Denmark.”

Fans can sign up or receive more information about the event at www.nba3xodense.com