ECHUCA (Australia) - The Oceania Mini Basketball Convention 2019 took place from September 21 -23 in Victoria, Australia with 240 children under the age of 12 participating in three days of games and activities and 11 National Federation delegates attending the Mini Basketball Conference. 

This was the second Oceania Mini Basketball Convention organized by the International Basketball Foundation (IBF), in collaboration with FIBA Oceania and Basketball Victoria Country.   

The Oceania Mini Basketball Convention 2019 was divided into two main parts: the Jamboree and a Conference.  In particular, for the delegates attending the Convention was focused on taking a closer look at the Jamboree that has been organized by Basketball Victoria Country for the past 26 years. The visiting National Federation delegates were able to see the ins and outs of organizing such an event, with the goal of organizing a Jamboree in their respective countries in 2020.

The Jamboree gathered 240 players under the age of 12 (120 boys + 120 girls), 24 coaches, 24 team managers, 18 referees, 5 referee educators, with each player receiving a Molten basketball from all over country Victoria. The 24 teams each played games throughout the three days with also a mixture of off-court activities as well which included attending an exhibition WNBL game. 

The Conference was attended by the National Federation delegates from 11 countries that included Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Laos, New Caledonia, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. They received interactive presentations on Mini Basketball Convention specifics like events organization, development, finances and how to incorporate Basketball for Good within Mini Basketball. The Conference concluded with delegates having to create an action plan for a Jamboree they will organize in their respective countries in 2020.

IBF President, Horacio Muratore said, "This event is the continuation of our global initiative across all five continents, with the aim of stimulating Mini Basketball and grassroots basketball within all of our member countries. I hope that the delegates have taken a lot of insight from the Convention and will now go back to their countries to develop programs that are adjusted to their needs."

Each delegate also received Molten Basketballs to take back to their respective countries.

David Huxtable, General Manager of Basketball Victoria said, "This has been a great opportunity for Basketball Victoria to showcase our Country Jamboree in Echuca. Delegates have been able to be a part of each aspect of the Jamboree."

It is expected that delegates will be able to utilize parts of what they have seen to create a Mini Basketball Jamboree within their country.

Conference participants Laisiasa Puamau, who is CEO Basketball Fiji said, "The weekend and training was a great learning opportunity within my role at Basketball Fiji. To be able to learn, interact and get first-hand knowledge from the people behind the success of the Jamboree Program is great. I would like to congratulate Basketball Victoria for their achievement of 26 years of continued success and look forward to beginning our own journey in providing the same opportunities within Basketball in Fiji. I would also like to thank FIBA and the International Basketball Foundation for this great initiative."

Mini Basketball Conventions are held worldwide and are used as a way of stimulating the sport at a grassroots level for 5 to 12-year-old girls and boys. The key idea is to grow the basketball community on a global level and in 2018, the IBF launched a worldwide initiative to give a new momentum to Mini Basketball. The IBF now organize one Convention, per continent, per year, always in collaboration with the respective regional office and a host country from the region. To date, there has been close to 6000 children participating in Mini Basketball Conventions globally. 

FIBA attendees at the Oceania Mini Basketball Convention 2019 were David Crocker, FIBA Oceania Executive Director, Annie La Fleur, FIBA Oceania Development Manager, Peter Topp, FIBA Oceania Basketball for Good, and Theren Bullock Jr., FIBA CSR Senior Associate.

David Crocker, FIBA Oceania Executive Director said during the weekend, "We targeted select countries and individuals to this Convention whom we believe have the ability to go back to their respective National Federations and create Mini Basketball activities. They will have our ongoing support as they continue to strive to build upon growing the basketball population."

The next Mini Basketball Convention will take place in Bahrain from November 22 – 24, 2019. For more information about the IBF click here.  

FIBA