According to Mr. Baidakov, Moscow Streetball Tournament to become one of the largest

Фото: Байдаков С.Л.

World Streetball Championship to be held in Moscow as part of the Forum "Russia – Country of Sports" shall be one of the most prominent international tournaments, said Sergey Baidakov, head of Russia’s Street Basketball Association, Moscow City Deputy Mayor, chief of Headquarters for the preparation and holding of the International sports Forum "Russia - Country of Sports", at a press conference on Tuesday.

Eighteen teams shall attend the championship, including teams from France, the United States, Spain, Italy, Lithuania and Serbia.
“This is one of the most presentable tournaments in the world”, Baidakov stressed. “Not a single international tournament, even the World Cup which took place in Italy had so many participants”.

The deputy mayor also said that he expects "great interest of the visitors, serious competition and successful performance of the Russian team"at the tournament.

"Streetball is one of the most popular and attractive youth sports," he said, adding: “This sport has a great future. I think holding this championship in the framework of the Sport forum "Russia – Country of Sports" shall contribute a lot to the development of street basketball in the country”.

Asked about Olympic prospects of streetball, Head of Moscow City Physical Education and Sports Department Mikhail Stepanyanz replied that there was nothing impossible about it.

“25-30 years ago nobody could imagine that snowboarding and freestyle would become Olympic events. They were always considered to be extraordinary and extreme sports”, he said. “So, everything is possible”.

Thechampionship will begin in “Luzhniki” on July 29. The competition in dunks, an exhibition training of the Russian national streetball team, and master classes in "big" basketball which shall be given by the CSKA Professional Basketball Clubplayers shall be held as part of the championship.

By RIA Novosti.