Weather warning! NRW 3x3 tour starts in Cologne - teams on alert!

Weather warning! NRW 3x3 tour starts in Cologne - teams on alert!

On Saturday, June 14, 2025, the 31st edition of the NRW 3 × 3 tour of the street basketball players rolls on. From 11 a.m. to around 5 p.m., the MediaPark in Cologne becomes a setting for exciting games and rapid action. 161 teams have already registered and only a few places are available. The anticipation is great, but the weather forecasts throw a shadow at the start. Georg Kleine from the West German Basketball Association (WBV) is concerned that rain or thunderstorms could make the ground unplayable. In order to be equipped for all eventualities, the WBV is planning a plan B: In the event of bad weather, the events for the Rheinstars basketball campus in Bickendorf should be moved. The WBV is quite sensitized to the weather, because the tour extends over three weeks and leads through 16 cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.

After 14 preliminary round tournaments, the grand finale will take place on July 6th at the Vest campus in Recklinghausen. Since the initiation of the NRW tour in 1994, over 40,000 teams with more than 160,000 children and adolescents have participated. The WBV also describes the event as the largest basketball popular sports event in Germany. Participants are uncomplicated for the participants: you need at least three players: inside, a club affiliation is not required. Particularly many school teams are part of the party, which underlines the importance of the event for the youth.

growing enthusiasm for basketball

The enthusiasm for basketball has experienced a real upswing in recent years- especially after the impressive World Cup and Olympic wins of the German teams. The halls are well attended, and fans particularly like to show themselves in old tour shirts. The participation fee of 20 euros per team includes a tour t-shirt that further increases enthusiasm for the event. In the anniversary year 2024, an average of 105 teams per location and a total of over 6,700 participants: took part in the tour inside. This is a clear sign of the popularity of the event, which again focuses on the different age groups this year with eleven play classes from U 9 to women/men level a.

There is a special way for schools to participate. With five registered teams you get a ball package with ten basket balls, which also motivates the schools to form teams and take part in the NRW 3 × 3 tour. In addition, visitors can look forward to a mixture of sporting entertainment and show acts, which should loosen up the event and create a great atmosphere. Information about the tour can also be found on the website of the School Ministry.

The NRW 3 × 3 tour promises to become a sporty highlight for all basketball enthusiasts. While the signs regarding the weather are still uncertain, the anticipation of exciting duels and unforgettable experiences remains. It is best to bring your friends with you and convince yourself of the atmosphere on the fields. Be there - maybe the weather will be a grandiose basketball festival!