The 2015 tournament will mark the fourth edition of the under-18s annual flagship event, having been held previously in Rimini, Italy, in 2011, Alcobendas, Spain, 2012 and Jakarta, Indonesia, 2013.

Israel has been a driving force in the development of the 3x3 game with the Basketball Association of Israel (IBBA) proving to be one of the most active federations in the sport's growing history.

The country fielded a team in the sports international inauguration at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games Singapore, finishing sixth in the competition, and has featured prominently in the sport ever since.

Israel came sixth in the 3x3 event at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games - the first international competition to host the sport ©FIBA



"We take great pride in hosting an international event like the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships and being associated with a rising discipline like 3x3," said IBBA President Dani Haloutz.

"No other international event mixes youth, sport, music and urban culture like this one.

"We support FIBA's initiative to steer 3x3 and bring it to the Olympics.

"This discipline already has a strong fanbase here, with players and spectators attending in numbers tournaments all over the country.

"We expect this event to have a positive impact on the development of 3x3 and basketball in general in Israel and take it as a great opportunity to welcome young athletes from all over the world and show them a little bit about our beautiful country."

Forty-eight teams - 24 men's and 24 women's - from 35 countries are expected to compete in the four-day event in Israel, with the top 22 teams in the 3x3 Federation Ranking - subject to diversity criteria - on November 1, 2014, joining Israel and the winners of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games from Nanjing at the event.

"We are delighted to organise the 2015 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships in Israel, giving the country its first major FIBA event," said FIBA secretary general and International Olympic Committee member Patrick Baumann.

"After a resounding success the last three years in Italy, Spain and Indonesia, we know our top 3x3 youth competition will be in safe hands in Israel in 2015."

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