MUNICH (Germany) - The first-ever workshop of EuroStep concluded on July 15 at the headquarters of FIBA Europe in Munich, marking a major milestone for the new, innovative project that aims to guide basketball organizations as they transform crucial functions and adapt to the digital era.

EuroStep is an initiative funded by the European Union's Erasmus + Sport program. FIBA Europe has partnered in this project with the German Sport University of Cologne as its main academic partner, as well as the digital basketball specialists NBN23 and the National Federations of Ireland, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

The workshop that kickstarted the project was entitled 'Training and capacity-building for European Club Media/Press Officers' and got underway on July 13. Its activities combined in-person training and capacity building, case studies and observation of preparations for the draws of the upcoming FIBA Europe club competitions.

The list of participants in the initial activity included 30 media officers from clubs around Europe. Only media officers working for clubs that will compete in the 2022-23 FIBA competitions were eligible to register and attend this stage of EuroStep.

FIBA Executive Director Europe Kamil Novak welcomed participants and officially opened workshop proceedings, to underline the groundbreaking character of EuroStep and its importance to FIBA Europe.

Dr. Christoph Bertling from the German Sports University in Cologne followed up with a general introduction of the program. In tandem with his academic partner at the University of Cologne, Daniel Nölleke, Dr. Bertling delivered a lecture on 'Digital & Skills Gap reported by Media Operations and Services'.

Geoff Wilson, who is a Business of Sport - FIBA external Consultant and Workshop Facilitator, then guided participants through the subjects of operational aspects to consider and content planning and offered his insight on the issue of raising attendance at clubs' home games.

Vaidas Jukavicius and Tomas Kukta from storied Lithuanian club Rytas Vilnius presented a case study entitled 'how to make a difference in a basketball club through digital content' while FIBA Head of Communications Europe Sakis Kontos steered attendees through the intricacies of media operations and digital operations during an event.

The second workshop of EuroStep, which is scheduled to take place in Spain in December, will be delivered to press and media officers of European National Federations, rather than clubs.

This is in line with the project's main aim, which is to help the development of clubs’ and national federations’ capacities and readiness to manage the accelerated digital transformation and new technologies in basketball in the post-pandemic era.

FIBA