International basketball’s governing body FIBA has extended its commercial deal with Netherlands-based sports equipment firm Schelde Sports until 2028.
The renewal of Schelde’s official technical partnership with FIBA - through which the Dutch brand supplies the federation with backstop units for its range of competitions - comes with the first such deal between the two parties having been struck in 2017.
However, FIBA and Schelde - owned by the French ABEO Group - had collaborated around specific tournaments before that tie-up, in 2014 and 2015. The backstop supplier has, in addition, been the official global backstop supplier for FIBA events in the 3x3 code since 2013.
The last partnership between the two parties was unveiled in November 2022.
The new deal stretches across tournaments such as the FIBA EuroBasket 2025, the Women's World Cup 2026 in Germany, the men’s 2027 tournament in Qatar, and the basketball action during the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Schelde is also a partner of the FIBA Equipment & Venue Centre.
In terms of FIBA's commercial activity, mid-December saw the global body name sports betting operator 1XBet as a new global partner in a three-year deal.
The firm has become the governing body’s exclusive global betting partner, through December 2027.
Olivier Estèves, ABEO Group's chief executive, added: “Future plans include supporting basketball growth with cutting-edge products that will improve athlete and fan experiences and we look forward strengthening our support and services to FIBA over the following four years, with the FIBA World Cup 2027 in Qatar and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games serving as significant milestones.”
