BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The FIBA Basketball World Cup China 2019 held its 100 day countdown ceremony in Beijing today.

Yao Ming, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 global ambassador and China Basketball Association Chairman, also used the occasion to announce the launching of the global Trophy Tour.

"The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 is of profound significance for promoting basketball. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) will make preparations to turn this World Cup into a festival for basketball fans," Director of the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau Zhao Wen said.

"Everything is within reach as the event is drawing near. I believe that fans all over the world cannot wait to hear the opening whistle," FIBA representative Frank Leenders said in a press conference.

The Cup's grand prize, the Naismith Trophy, named in honor of basketball's inventor Dr. James Naismith, will embark on a journey across 25 countries and five continents for the first time.

The biggest edition of FIBA's flagship event, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, is set to feature a record 32 national teams competing in eight Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan from August 31 to September 15.