GUILIN - After striking up a four-year partnership to promote basketball's values and its heritage earlier this year, the International Basketball Foundation (IBF) and PEAK held a charity event in Guilin, China last week which focused on the areas of development assistance and using basketball to have a positive impact. 

French national team icon Tony Parker was on hand to serve as an ambassador of the two-day event. 

To kick things off, a press conference was held during which IBF and PEAK representatives spoke of the partnership they struck back in March and discussed their shared vision of assisting communities in China and around the world.

The event also served as a platform for the IBF to highlight its new focus, 'Basketball For Good'. Through this initiative, the mission of FIBA's Foundation is to develop humanitarian programs that use the power of basketball as a catalyst to build stronger communities and impact for good.

A number of activities promoting social inclusion were held and the event's highlight was a visit to the children's rehabilitation center of the Guilin disabled person's federation. There, guests interacted with the children - who are taught to develop their skills so they can be actively involved in the community - and Parker taught them some basic basketball skills.

Additionally, a wheelchair basketball game took place between mixed teams. Parker took a few shots from a wheelchair and shared his admiration for the players' skills.

"I will never forget what happened," Parker said, indicating how meaningful it was for him to be there and lend encouragement and support to the children. 

The event was the first as part of PEAK and the IBF teaming up to achieve the Foundation's mission of using 'Basketball For Good'.

FIBA