PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea) - Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) bagged two distinctions in the 2021 SP Sports Awards held at the Crown Hotel in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

BFPNG's Basketball For Good program was awarded the Community Sports Initiative of the Year. 

Basketball for Good is a community initiative from BFPNG, aimed at fostering and promoting healthy and positive lifestyles in rural PNG, with a focus on positive, innovation and inclusiveness while also educating issues through various programs including  Mum's A Hero, Pikinini Hoops, Hoops for Health and Twilight Hoops for women, children and youth.

BFPNG President, Karo Lelai highlighted the opportunity the programs has provided to create a positive impact within the communities that the program has reached.

"The powerful platform provided by B4G for our community coaches to influence social norms cannot be underestimated. We are very proud of all our people who contributed to the program. This is their award and BFPNG accepted it on behalf of the wider basketball family," Lelai said in a statement.

BFPNG's two awards

BFPNG Executive Officer Nick Daroa who was in attendance to accept the award credited their partners in receiving the award.

"We wouldn't be this successful without the support of all Basketball stakeholders at all levels and the tremendous support of FIBA through IBF and Team Up program of the Australian government. Thank you to all the volunteer Coaches, Technical Officials, Sponsors, every child boy or girl, and adult participants. " Daroa shared.

BFPNG's Pikinini Hoops program under their Basketball For Good strategy is supported by the Australian Government through the Pacific Sports Partnerships, and FIBA's Foundation, the International Basketball Foundation.

Winning photo of Jordan Sere

Aside from the Community Sports Initiative of the Year award, BFPNG also took home the Sports Photo of the Year award taken by BFPNG Hoops For Health Coordinator, Jordan Sere.

"Huge congratulations to our H4H officer Jordan Koiti Sere for his award-winning photograph "Healthy community". Again, we credit B4G for providing a framework within which BFPNG can promote dual-career athletes who are better prepared for life after sport," Lelai shared.

The SP Sports Awards is the top sporting awards body in Papua New Guinea with over 11 award categories. The annual event recognizes the achievements of the country's top sporting personalities since 1992.

About FIBA Community Impact projects:

The FIBA Foundation’s Community Impact programs are implemented into individual countries and address social issues relevant to the communities such as health, education, and gender inequality. These grassroots programs are implemented in collaboration with National Federations to grow the basketball family while improving society. Please contact us if you want to know more about our programs or if you are interested to work with us.

FIBA