Spain, Nigeria and Belgium will compete from 21 to 23 August as Spain prepares for the Women’s World Cup
The Pabellón Santiago Martín will become the focus of women’s basketball in Tenerife this weekend, with the International Women’s Basketball Tournament taking place from 21 to 23 August.
The tournament forms part of the Spanish women’s national team’s “Volvemos a Soñar” preparation tour ahead of the Women’s Basketball World Cup, which takes place in Berlin from 4 to 13 September.
Spain will be joined in Tenerife by Nigeria and Belgium, giving local fans the chance to see three international teams competing at the Santiago Martín before heading into the final stages of their World Cup preparations.
The tournament was presented by Lope Afonso, Vice President and Tourism Minister of the Cabildo de Tenerife, alongside Elisa Aguilar, President of the Spanish Basketball Federation, and national team coach Miguel Méndez.
Also attending were Tenerife Sports Councillor Yolanda Moliné, Tenerife Tourism CEO Dimple Melwani and Spanish international Elena Buenavida.
Tenerife and Spanish basketball continue their partnership
Afonso highlighted the ongoing relationship between Tenerife Tourism and the Spanish Basketball Federation, which was formalised last year with the aim of promoting Tenerife as an official destination for the federation and its national teams.
For Tenerife, hosting high-level international sport is about more than what happens on the court.
The island gets its name in front of a huge audience while associating the destination with sport, effort and excellence. Not a bad bit of advertising, really.
Afonso also welcomed the return of the Spanish women’s team to Tenerife, pointing to the presence of Spain, Nigeria and Belgium as further evidence that the island can host major international sporting events.
Spain returns to the World Cup
Elisa Aguilar praised the support from Tenerife’s institutions and highlighted the importance of Spain returning to the Women’s World Cup after an eight-year absence.
She also looked back to 2018, when Tenerife hosted the Spanish team during its preparation and proved something of a lucky charm.
The hope is that history repeats itself.
A chance to see elite basketball
Yolanda Moliné encouraged supporters to fill the Santiago Martín and give the Spanish team a home-court atmosphere.
She also highlighted the opportunity the tournament provides for young basketball players on the island to watch elite international sport at close quarters.
The event is another example of Tenerife using major sporting competitions to combine tourism promotion with opportunities for local residents.
Sport as tourism promotion
Dimple Melwani confirmed that Tenerife remains an official tourist destination partner of the FEB, with the island’s “Tenerife Despierta Emociones” branding appearing on the national teams’ equipment.
The arrival of the Spanish, Nigerian and Belgian delegations also provides an opportunity for cultural exchange away from the basketball itself.
And that’s really the wider point. Get international teams, coaches and supporters spending time on the island, give them a good experience, and hopefully they’ll go home talking about Tenerife for reasons that have nothing to do with the final score.