MIES - Karo Lelai, the Secretary of the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) and a board member of the country's National Olympic Committee, on Wednesday paid a visit to the House of Basketball.

Lelai presented a progress report to FIBA's Foundation on the project launched back in May that saw the arm of the international basketball governing body responsible for social, humanitarian and educational activities enter into a partnership with FIBA Oceania with the aim of supporting the BFPNG.

The partnership sees investments by the Foundation being used to support the development of healthier and more inclusive communities through sport in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Since May, the BFPNG has made considerable progress in several key areas including strategic planning, increasing the number of affiliated associations and community engagement and growing participation. In June, it organised two basketball clinics in Port Moresby and Alotou with several hundred kids as young as four, five and six years old taking part.

More than half (54 percent) of PNG's population is between the ages of 0-24. Once they reach adulthood, one in four of them are considered obese.

The partnership between FIBA's Foundation, FIBA Oceania and BFPNG seeks to engage the youth of PNG in regular basketball activities and educate them on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. By reaching kids while they are young, the country's basketball federation hopes to give them a new lease on life.

Lelai also used of her time at FIBA's headquarters to hold meetings with the National Federation & Sport Department and the 3x3 Department.

FIBA