How about the 1st FIBA 3x3 basketball tournament in Versailles, Yvelines, on Saturday August 30, 2025? Indeed, the southern median of the Avenue de Paris, on the architecture school side towards the Château de Versailles, will be transformed into 3x3 basketball courts. The International Basketball Federation, the City of Versailles and theELCV78 are organizing an exceptional international tournament that promises to put on a spectacular show in a unique setting.
Twelve teams from France, Switzerland, Poland, the USA, Lithuania, England and Algeria come together to compete in this "Lite Quest" tournament, the third international division after the Challenger category and the World Tour, under the aegis of FIBA. A qualifying event for the FIBA 3x3 Challenger in Mataró, Spain, scheduled for September 27-28, 2025.
"In recent years, we've been keen to create temporary, outdoor sporting events that appeal to as many people as possible," explains Nicolas Fouquet, deputy mayor in charge of sports, toActu78. Versailles has applied to the FIBA to host the tournament, as part of a drive to develop outdoor sporting events.
Basketball finds particularly fertile ground in Versailles. The Versailles Le Chesnay basketball club (ELCV78) has the highest number of members in France, with 1,100. The merger of the Versailles and Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt clubs means that more training slots are now available to meet local demand. 35 championship teams, handisport, a 3x3 section... the club is a full house every year, and also benefits from a certain amount of media coverage thanks to Victor Wembanyama.
3x3 basketball is played by 3 players plus 1 substitute on a half-court with a single basket. Games are played over 10 minutes or up to 21 points, creating a spectacular, fast-paced discipline. Each time the ball is recovered, players have just 12 seconds to shoot, guaranteeing non-stop intensity.
This Saturday, August 30, the twelve teams will compete in group matches from 10am to 12:45pm, followed by the final phases from 2:30pm to 6pm. A 200-seat grandstand will be set up, but it will also be possible to watch the matches free of charge on the pitchside. "As this is a first for Versailles, we're starting with one day," explains Philippe Pham, President of the ELCV78. If the event proves successful, it could be repeated over two days in future years.
In Versailles, the town council and the ELCV78 created three outdoor 3x3 basketball courts just over a year ago. "It's a relatively recent sport, especially in France", stresses the president of the ELCV78. The French Basketball Federation is keen to develop this discipline, but this requires suitable infrastructures.
The club devotes two slots to indoor 3x3 basketball, but cannot do more without penalizing traditional basketball. This constraint explains why the ELCV78 turns down around a hundred registrations every year, testifying to the popularity of this now-Olympic urban sport.
Some thirty volunteers from the ELCV78, including managers, employees and players with 2025-2026 licenses, are mobilizing for this co-organized event. "It's going to be a fun event, with the atmosphere of 3x3 basketball," promises Nicolas Fouquet. "We don't have a sports hall to host major events, but this type of outdoor event is entirely possible".
The event is part of a wider dynamic, with the town considering other events such as an Iron Man in 2026. Urban sports will also be in the spotlight on Saturday September 13 with the Esprit urbain event at the skate-park, initially postponed in June due to the heatwave.
To get to Versailles, the RER C serves the Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, a 10-minute walk from the tournament venue. The event is entirely free of charge, offering local residents a great opportunity to discover this spectacular discipline in an exceptional setting.
Dates and Opening Time
On August 30, 2025
From 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.elcv78basket.com
