OCEANIA - With the year coming to a close, it's a great time to reflect back on all that FIBA's Basketball Plus strategy has achieved during 2016.

FIBA's program uses basketball as a tool to enable people to develop as healthy, contributing members of their communities. Active throughout the year in 5 different countries in the Pacific and Asia, Basketball Plus has reached 19,711 participants (* Figure does not include last three months of the year) in 2016 alone. 

Across all five countries, the program saw a 48% female participation rate with that rate increasing to 51% in Fiji.

The Basketball Plus strategy has touched countless people's lives during 2016.

“At first I only played hoop for fun. Now through the Hoops for Health program, I am starting on having this mentality as I have to play for my health. I managed to influence my two elder brothers to play the game not only for fun but also if they value their lives or health. I found myself happy as I get to know lots of people or players from other clubs. I haven’t missed any basketball functions I get involved more and forget other influences like alcohol, clubbing as I set my target to be the best basketball player in 3 years,” said Muieraoi, Hoops for Health Participant Kiribati.

“Before Hoops for Health, I stayed home most of the time and was never interested in outdoors activities. Having a proper diet was never important to me… [after participating in Mum’s A Hero] I now involve myself with outdoors activities in order to keep fit and stay healthy for my family,” said Miri, Mum’s A Hero participant - Fiji.

There are people all over the Pacific and Asia who cannot speak highly enough of the program and the volunteer coaches who make all of this possible but as they say, a picture tells a thousand words.

Fiji's Hoops for Health Coach Nikki teaching kids to shoot

Timor-Leste Mum's a Hero program

 Vanuatu's Hoops for Health program Central School visit

Papua New Guinea's Nathan Mutik during the Pacific Youth Leaders Camp

Papua New Guinea's Hoops for Health program visits St. Joeys with the Australian Federal Police

Kiribati Hoops for Health program - Photo Credit ABC's International Development Aaron Keamey

Vanuatu's Hoops for Health program "bringing the game to all"

FIBA donating equipment to the Timor-Leste Mum's a Hero program

Phil Smyth coaching at the Pacific Youth Leaders Camp 

Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea's Twilight Basketball Crew 

A number of these initiatives were funded by the Australian Government through the Pacific Sports Partnership program.

FIBA