L-R: FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Executive Director David Crocker, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Olivia ‘Bong’ Coo, and FBWC 2023 Event Director (Philippines) Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios pose with JIP, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Mascot. (Photos courtesy of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023)
Manila, Philippines – The fans have spoken! JIP, a combination of the initials of the three host countries Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, has been chosen as the name for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Mascot.
Nearly 100,000 fans visited the mascot naming poll to make a choice for the mascot name. The other options were Ben, Bob, Sam, Sparky, and Trey. JIP, however, was especially fitting for the shared vision of the creators of the basketball robot: to unite the three host nations and the world through the power of basketball.
Aside from promoting unity and representation, JIP aims to teach the youth about the importance of recycling. The World Cup mascot, which has terrific dribbling skills and a supersonic dunk, also has a hoop and basket on its back that people can shoot their recycled items into, to help instill the lesson of proper waste disposal and recycling.
JIP was officially unveiled on July 31, 2022 at JIP For The Win: The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Mascot Launch at the SM Mall of Asia Central Atrium. Dozens of basketball fans and their families gave the World Cup mascot a warm welcome while participating in fun-filled activities.
The event area was opened to the public in the morning, complete with coloring stations for kids and several basketball arcades. By the afternoon, the program, hosted by Eric ‘Eruption’ Tai and Denise Tan, kicked off with a set by DJ Patty Tiu. Members of Hype Streetball PH also put on an exhibition match for the onlookers before the World Cup mascot was finally revealed. The event then capped off with another special musical performance, this time from Spongecola. Some lucky fans even got to meet and interact with JIP after the program!
Al Panlilio, President of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), said: “We are proud to have JIP as the official FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 mascot. JIP symbolizes the strong bonds and unity among Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines in hosting such a prestigious sporting event as the World Cup and demonstrates the hosts’ unified goal of amplifying the environment through proper recycling practices.”
David Crocker, executive director of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, added: “This is just the beginning of a series of promotional events and activities that we have for Filipino basketball fans and their families leading up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup next year. FIBA has high hopes that the Filipinos’ passion for the sport will translate to overwhelming support for all the teams that will come here as they go all out on the court for glory and the trophy.”
Fans and families can look forward to interacting more with JIP as it continues to promote the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which will be held in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. In August, there will be another momentous occasion as FIBA and SBP begin the one year to go countdown towards the World Cup.
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