International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Oceania director Amanda Jenkins has predicted that basketball and 3x3 competitions at the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands will provide "very high quality and the very best event possible."

Jenkins is set to serve as basketball's technical delegate during the Games, scheduled to take place between November 19 and December 2, with responsibility for both formats of the sport.

She visited the Solomon Islands capital Honiara to meet local officials and view the projected venues to be used during the Games.

"The aim of the visit is really to get a better understanding about preparations and how the events will take place at the Games and to ensure that our athletes are being looked after and that we deliver the best events possible," Jenkins said.

Jenkins toured the Friendship Hall, the multi-purpose Honiara City Council Sports Precinct (HCC) and the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) facility at the King George VI School.

"There are some really good venues which will provide a good base for the sport in the future," she said.

The venue for 3x3 is not yet finalised, but Jenkins was able to inspect venues that organisers are considering for the event.

"The [3x3] will create a really great outdoor atmosphere, the athletes will be quite happy and be able to come knowing that the event will be a really great standard,” Jenkins predicted.

"Solomon Islanders know that they now have some really high class facilities that can be used long into the future, which is the benefit of the games for the hosting nation."

The Pacific Games also forms part of the qualification pathway for the FIBA World Cup.

"Spectators should be prepared for some very high-qualitybasketball, the event will be at a very high standard," Jenkins promised.

The men’s competition at the Games is set to feature Guam, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Samoa.

The women’s tournament includes Guam, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Tahiti.

"I’m looking forward to coming back in November and seeing where the sport will evolve," Jenkins said.

Table tennis technical delegate Graeme Ireland has just begun his own visit to venues.

Officials from taekwondo and weightlifting toured Games facilities last year.

Source: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1132920/solomon-islands-2023-basketball-visit