The stage is set as the much-anticipated event in world basketball gets underway in China Saturday night.  

The host country's game against Cote d’Ivoire will be the most watched in China among Saturday’s eight openers, and the FIBA World Cup's organizers have been using the run-up to the tournament to promote the event to the public, while also working to ensure a smooth spectator experience at the venues.  

With the planet's top men's basketball national teams streaming into the most populous country in the world, the organizers are promoting 2019’s high-level hardwood showcase to fans around the host country by displaying street signs, placing advertisements on multiple media platforms, and setting up FIBA World Cup Houses in each of the eight host cities. 

Li Suling, a FIBA World Cup House volunteer told CGTN, “They can play basketball, and they can record a video that they can shout and cheer for their favorite team, and they can learn the history of our ‘World Got Game’.” 

Chinese basketball fan Wang Changshuo said, “I think I will watch most of them for the strong teams, for example, the USA or Serbia.” 

This is the first time China will be hosting the event, which was known as the World Championship prior to the last edition five years ago. It has supporters shelling out for souvenirs in advance, but once the action heats up, the main focus will turn to the proceedings inside the venues. 

Five-time winners and reigning titleholders the USA are missing the vast majority of their best players, leaving returning runners-up Serbia poised to go one step further, with Spain and Greece also in the mix, alongside top five contenders France and Argentina.  

All 32 teams come in with high hopes, of course, and China definitely can't be discounted, as the hosts try to turn home court advantage into a trophy lifting edge. 

Meanwhile, China’s captain Yi Jianlian mentioned, “When people talk about the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, they remember that as our country's own Olympics. So I think this time, the FIBA World Cup is also our own World Cup. I hope we can achieve a good result, just like in the 2008 Olympics, because I know everybody is going to be watching us, and supporting us playing at home, so we have to be motivated.” 

Whether hosting gives China an additional boost remains to be seen, but the home squad's backers will have just one sentiment for the duration of their run. So with the competition floors laid down, and all the game equipment ready to go, the 18th edition of the planetary hoops party holds promise for a two-week pageant unlike any in the 69-year history of this event.