The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has secured a deal to make Japan Airlines a global partner.
Japan Airlines also becomes the official airline of Fiba under the agreement, which runs until the end of 2016.
As a global partner, Japan Airlines will benefit from comprehensive marketing rights across all Fiba competitions at regional and world levels. Champion, Intersport, Molten, Peak and Tissot also serve as global partners of Fiba.
Fiba president Horacio Muratore said: “This is a historical day for Fiba as we have the pleasure of welcoming a global partner from Asia in the airline category. We are very excited to have a company and brand as prestigious and world renowned as Japan Airlines join us and assist Fiba in our mission of developing and growing basketball worldwide.”
Muratore’s counterpart at Japan Airlines, Yoshiharu Ueki, added: “Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world with fans in every corner of the globe. We are very happy to be able to support the beloved game of basketball on a global scale.
“Japan Airlines is an official airline partner of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and we hope to use the synergies of both properties to their fullest potential to promote the beautiful game of basketball from Japan to the world.”