Indonesia's 'Revamp My Court' World Cup legacy program unveiled in Jakarta

JAKARTA (Indonesia) - The FIBA Basketball World Cup is the most important hoops event ever to be staged in Jakarta, with eight outstanding national teams playing in the sparkling, new 16,000-capacity Indonesia Arena. The event tips off on August 25.

After the last crucial games have been played in Jakarta on September 3, when teams then move to the Philippines for the Final Phase of the competition, the legacy of the World Cup will live on in the city thanks to the Revamp My Court program.

The initiative, implemented by the Local Organizing Committee in Indonesia, has led to the refurbishment of two famous basketball courts in Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, where many national (team) players have practiced and competed over the years and continue to do so, even after they have retired.

The basketball support units have been painted, as well as the entire surface of the courts. The LOC has improved toilet facilities, and added canopies to courtside seats.

Enlisted to help was the famous mural artist from Jakarta, Philip Ponk. He and 10 other artists began painting on April 17 and the courts were inaugurated on May 20, in conjunction with National Awakening Day.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 LOC Chairman Budisatrio Djiwandono  said: "This is why we invited our women's basketball team that just won a gold medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia to put spirit in the launch of Revamp My Court.

"We all hope that many new talented basketball players will emerge from these revitalized courts. That way, we hope that our achievements in basketball, both men and women, will continue to improve on the global stage."

National Awakening Day was chosen as the launch date for Revamp My Court as a symbol of hope for the rise of Indonesian basketball on the global scene. 

"Being able to make repairs and beautify these courts is a way to give back to our basketball community and thank them for their support," said FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Executive Director David Crocker.

The project has also served to promote the World Cup, raising awareness for the event which is also being staged in Japan and the Philippines.

Indonesians will be able to see, in person, spectacular players and teams. The 2019 World Cup winners, Spain, will be in Jakarta along with Brazil, France, Canada, Latvia, Lebanon, Iran and Cote d'Ivoire.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans.

"In less than 100 days, the current world champion, Spain, will play in Jakarta," Crocker said.

"...France is the current Olympic silver medalists and the team that beat the United States in the early rounds in Tokyo. So, being able to witness the best players in the world play in Jakarta, in a magnificent new stadium, is something not to be missed, a once-in-a-life-time opportunity."

There will be great games and, thanks to Revamp My Court, there will also be a legacy of the World Cup having been held in Jakarta.

FIBA