Tashkent - The Basketball Federation of Uzbekistan has signed a Memorandum on Cooperation (MoC) with the Union Ministry of Public Education to promote basketball at public schools throughout the country.

Besides the key objective of establishing a national basketball school league, the MoC also proposes the setting up of basketball camps in schools.

"It is very important to develop this sport among students, as basketball shapes the team spirit among youngsters, gives purpose and teaches mutual support. Being a professional athlete (a basketball player, in particular) will also create opportunities for school-leavers to receive educational grants in higher educational institutions of the US. I am ready to give all the support required in promoting basketball in our schools, both among girls and boys,” said Mr Atabek Nazirov, Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister for Public Education.

Additionally, Mr Khurshed Giyasov, the Vice-President at the Uzbekistan Basketball Federation has mooted the idea of inviting former NBA players as good-will ambassadors and as well as a working visit to the US to learn from the American experience of organizing junior leagues. “This would help to popularize basketball among school children, which would also lead to an increased professional status of the game in the future,” Mr Giyasov said.

 FIBA