DEBRECEN (Hungary) - The FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Hungary is showcasing some of the sport's top young stars, players not far away from professional careers and senior national team competition.

The event is something that every young player is thrilled to be a part of. They represent their countries and also get to measure themselves against the best.

Yet the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup is not just a competition. It's a gathering where players learn important lessons that will be useful in future successful careers.

An educational workshop, supported by the FIBA Players' Commission, took place in Debrecen and all players from the 16 delegations participated. It ended up being a very interactive workshop, one in which players had the chance to have fun, interact with each other and learn.

The main topic at this year's workshop was the importance of cultural awareness, and the former international player that educated them on the subject was Greece legend Evina Maltsi, an Olympian at the 2004 Athens Games and the MVP of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2009. With a long and successful career, she played in numerous World Cups, the most recent in 2018 in Spain, as well as multiple EuroLeague and EuroCup Women's seasons and EuroBaskets. 

Maltsi was one of Europe's greatest scorers and passers. Her unyielding spirit and drive always helped Greece qualify for big events and sometimes, even challenge for spots on the podium.

She is also one of the first to be involved in the FIBA Players Mentorship program, which trains former players to become mentors of the younger generations.

Cultural Awareness is important because many players will end up going abroad and competing in tournaments, or playing for foreign clubs. Maltsi talked to players about the importance of acknowledging cultural differences. She also spoke about recognizing culture shock and explained how to face it in order to achieve one's maximum potential on the court.

Players from all delegations shared fun facts about their own cultures that might have been unknown to others to demonstrate how they all come from different backgrounds. Ultimately, all realized they have the same burning interest, which is basketball.

Maltsi experienced different cultures because she played in several countries, from Greece, Spain, France, Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey in Europe to the United States.

"This is a very important topic for these players since it is very possible that they will transfer internationally in the next few years," she said. "Being able to adapt to new cultures and to avoid culture shock will allow them to focus on basketball and succeed on the court.

"I have followed the FIBA Players' Mentorship Program, and when I had to learn about this topic I realized that I had suffered from culture shock several times. However, I was not aware of it. I thought that it was all my fault and that I was weak.

"Players must understand that this is something completely normal that can happen to anyone. By knowing about the symptoms they will be able to tackle the problem early. They must also understand that there is nothing wrong and that they can speak up."

Maltsi says the workshops are extremely beneficial to the players.

"I think that these educational sessions are great for the players," she said. "I would have loved to have someone explaining this to me when I was their age.

"Now, as a mentor, I just want to give back to basketball and help the next generation as much as I can."

The workshop will be made available at the Players' Hub, where past Players' Workshops from other events are available. 

 FIBA