Using the power of basketball to create change on April 6
MIES (Switzerland) - Today we celebrate April 6th, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace! The IDSDP celebrates sport as a driving force towards inclusion, unity, equality and peace. It is also the opportunity to celebrate the work of the International Basketball Foundation (IBF) whose very mission is to use the power of basketball to initiate positive change.
The Foundation develops Basketball For Good programs to tackle pressing issues that affect children and youth in the concerned communities, using basketball as a vector for change. So far, the IBF has initiated 15 projects in 64 countries, benefiting over 16,000 youths.
Horacio Muratore at the European Mini Basketball Convention
Horacio Muratore, IBF President stated: "Today especially, we need to remember the power that Basketball has of bringing people together and making individuals, especially youths, happier, more confident, and feel more empowered".
For IDSDP, FIBA, FIBA 3x3 and the IBF asked some of their players and beneficiaries to share how sport, in particular basketball, has impacted their life. Resilience, opportunity, perspective, open-mindedness, leadership and teamwork were all mentioned from these stars as to how basketball has changed their lives.
Watch what Georgios Bogris, Rae Lin D'Alie, Luigi Datome, Marcelinho Huertas, Emma Meesseman and Tom Wright had to say about IDSDP.
How has sport impacted you❓
— FIBA (@FIBA) April 6, 2020
We asked 2 IBF beneficiaries, 2 basketball stars and 2 3x3 stars to share their thoughts on #IDSDP2020 and what they have learned through basketball 🏀#April6 #BasketballForGood #WhiteCard #IDSDP pic.twitter.com/hymNWYvitx
In doing so, they also joined Peand and Sport's White Card Campaign: "As a reference to the yellow and the red card in the sporting world, the #WhiteCard invites not to punish but to create real positive change. The #WhiteCard as a sign of commitment to peace efforts worldwide and where small actions make a difference."
“Today especially, we need to remember the power that Basketball has of bringing people together and making individuals, especially youths, happier, more confident, and feel more empowered".”
FIBA