Japan Airlines will be the main airline sponsor of this year’s 15th FIBA Men’s Basketball World Championship - the first time it has been held in Japan.JAL will provide transportation assistance to basketball teams and officials, as well as help in promoting the event.

Established in 1950 by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the FIBA World Championship is held usually every four years, alternating with the Olympics.

This FIBA sporting event brings together national basketball teams from around the world to compete for the prestigious title of world champion.

The championship will be held from August 19 to September 3, 2006 in five cities across Japan: Sapporo, Sendai, Hamamatsu, Hiroshima, and Saitama City, where the final rounds will be played.

Out of a total of 212 national basketball teams who competed last year in preliminary regional competitions, twenty-four teams have qualified to participate in the 2006 championship, including teams from Australia, Brazil, China, Greece and the USA.
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