China was chosen as the host country for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup on Friday (7th August ) in Tokyo, Japan.

Basketball's global governing body announced in Toyko on Friday night who will be hosting the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Yao Ming, China 2019 bid ambassador: "Basketball has shaped my life and it is my greatest passion."

The choice was between China and the Philippines,

With Manny Pcquiao on hand to help his country's bid.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Horacio Muratore, FIBA President: "The host of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup is... China."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Yao Ming, China 2019 bid ambassador: "It's so exciting moment that we can bring this game in 2019 to China, and I believe that, not just me but outside and back to China, there's thousands, millions (of) fans sharing the same joy like we do."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Yao Ming, China 2019 bid ambassador: "I think that this game will really inspire a lot of other people. I know how it feels to have a chance to play World Cup level basketball in (my) home country before in 2008, and I'm sure that that sense of feeling will continue to encourage more young athletes to participate in basketball."

The 2019 tournament will feature 32 teams for the first time.

It will be the first World Cup played under FIBA's new qualifying process which begins in November 2017 and last 18 months.