IND - India team up with IMG Reliance to grow game

NEW DELHI (BFI) - The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has joined hands with IMG Reliance - a joint venture between IMG Worldwide and Reliance Industries - to develop the sport in the country, from the grassroots up to the professional level.

The initiative is expected to significantly impact the competitive level of the game and enhance the pool of talent in the country.

"It is an important development in the history of basketball in the country," said BFI General Secretary Harish Sharma. "This is a giant step towards our stated vision of making basketball a much-watched and popular sport in the country.

"We are confident that IMG Reliance will play a significant part in realising this vision with a comprehensive programme, involving development of a loyal fan base, as well as development of talent at an early stage."

The news of the partnership was welcomed by FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Patrick Baumann.

"India is a country still in development in terms of basketball, but it has a huge potential. This partnership is a positive sign and an opportunity for a faster growth of our sport in this large market," he said.

As part of the agreement, the BFI has granted IMG Reliance commercial rights relating to basketball in India, including sponsorship, advertising, broadcasting, merchandising, film, video and date, intellectual property, franchising and new league rights.

The pinnacle of the agreement is expected to be the development of a professional basketball league in India in which players from around the globe will compete alongside Indian players, similar to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in China. A critical element of the new initiative will be the development of world class infrastructures in India to support the effort, including the construction of new arenas and training facilities.

In line with its focus on developing the game at the grassroots level, IMG Reliance will advise the BFI regarding the organisation and management of school and college leagues throughout the country. This will create a platform to develop and augment the talent pool of young men and women, enhance their opportunities to compete internationally, and successfully represent India on the world stage.

"We are working towards kicking off the leagues at the onset of the sporting calendar in the country," added Sharma.

Earlier this year, IMG Worldwide and Reliance Industries created a joint venture in India, IMG Reliance Pvt. Ltd., to focus on unlocking the sporting potential, and create and operate major sporting and entertainment assets in the country.

The association with the BFI is IMG Reliance's first significant initiative in this direction.

FIBA