Dubai Duty Free will be a strong promotional partner for the event and will also be the team sponsor for the UAE side, who will be making their debut in the competition scheduled to take place from August 8 to 16.

"The UAE Basketball Association is proud to have the support of Dubai Duty Free for this historical basketball event, and their support will help us organise an event that will be a truly special experience for players and fans alike," said Ismail Al Gargawi, President of the UAE Basketball Association.

The UAE will be up against 15 other sides across the nine days of action and have been drawn in Group C alongside Italy, Spain and Puerto Rico.

Defending champions the United States, who have won the first two editions of the tournament in Hamburg, Germany in 2010 and Kaunas, Lithuania in 2012; face Angola, Greece and the Philippines in Group A as they go for a hat-trick of titles.

Group B sees 2012 runners-up Australia take on 2010 bronze medal winners Canada, France and Japan while Argentina, China, Egypt and Serbia make-up Group D.

The group games are scheduled to take place at the Al Ahli Arena and Al Wasl Arena with the Hamdan Sports Complex hosting the final rounds.

Each team will play in a round-robin format in the group stage which will decide the ties for the last 16 round.

The eight winners from the last 16 will advance to the final knockout stages while the losers will take part in a classification competition to decide final placings.

This year's tournament in Dubai will be the first time a FIBA World Championship will have been hosted in the Middle East.

The United States will be aiming for a third consecutive title when the FIBA Under-17 World Championships take place in Dubai in August ©Getty Images




The sponsorship deal sees Dubai Duty Free, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last December, continue its association with sporting events in the UAE which includes title sponsorship of the men's Dubai Tennis Championships, running since 1993 and the women's Dubai Tennis Open which began in 2001.

The company has also been associated with the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby 7's and the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) Skydive Dubai XCAT World Powerboat Series.

"We are pleased to extend our support to the UAE Basketball Association as the event sponsor of the 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and the team sponsor of the UAE national team," said Colm McLoughlin, executive vice-chairman of Dubai Duty Free.

"This is a reflection of our continued commitment to promote Dubai through sports sponsorship and by supporting local talent in such a prestigious international tournament."

A full competition schedule for the FIBA Under-17 World Championships can be found here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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