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22 September, 2022
01 October
Timms Molten Ball Relay launch
02/05/2022
News
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Molten Ball Relay launched before Women's World Cup

SYDNEY (Australia) - Australian Opals legend Michele Timms took center stage the first time the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup was staged Down Under, in 1994.

Now the FIBA Hall of Famer is in the spotlight in the buildup to this year's World Cup in Sydney, which tips off on September 22. Timms is taking part in the launch of the Molten Ball Relay that's designed to connect junior basketball clubs across the country.

Junior players across the country will have chance to see the official World Cup Ball as FIBA's flagship women's event.

The official World Cup Game Ball will visit 20 clubs across Australia, with young females, many of them aspiring to be national team players themselves one day, given the opportunity to share messages of support for the 12 participating nations of the World Cup.

The Ball of Hope will ultimately be presented to FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Event Ambassador Lauren Jackson, who will then relay the good luck messages from Australians to the teams.

"It’s been great to come back to Bulleen Basketball Club, my first club, to officially launch the Molten Ball Relay as part of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup," said Timms.

"I'm ecstatic to be an ambassador for the Molten Ball Relay, because it's not only going to deliver an underflow of excitement in the lead up to the World Cup, but it's also a great opportunity to bring together the basketball community all around Australia.

 "These young players will get a chance to see the Molten ball that is going to be used during the World Cup - they’ll be able to associate that with the event and they'll be able to send the players messages of support, so it's a really exciting time. 

"There is such a buzz at the moment about the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup coming to Australia, and the sparkle these junior players have in their eyes when they talk about the World Cup and say 'that's what I want to be, I want to play for Australia one day'. It’s absolutely fantastic," she said.

Molten Brand Marketing Lead, Noa Hasegawa, said: "The Molten Ball Relay is designed to connect communities across the country in the lead up to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

"We want as many young people to feel part of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and through the Molten Ball Relay they’ll have the opportunity to share their good luck messages with participating nations, see first hand the limited edition 2022 World Cup Molten Ball and much more."

FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Local Organizing Committee Chief Executive, Melissa King, said: "Molten’s activities, through their Ball Relay and Female Local Champions program, provide the Australian basketball community with another unique opportunity to interact with the Women's World Cup being hosted in Sydney in September this year. These activities help to leave a lasting impression on the next generation of players and administrators."

In addition to the Molten Ball Relay, a Female Local Champions program in which female coaches, referees and administrators all over Australia champion female participation, will be encouraged to nominate and showcase their efforts in the community.

Three lucky Champions will be flown to Sydney for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup to meet Timms and learn from leading coaches and administrators.

FIBA