DOHA (Qatar) - The FIBA U16 Asian Championship 2023 not only aims to positively impact the basketball aspect of the next generation but the environment as well.

At this event, FIBA Regional Office Asia continued to implement the SustainaBALL program which was initially launched at the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship 2023 earlier this year in Amman, Jordan. The program's objective has been to educate athletes and enhance awareness regarding critical sustainability matters by implementing diverse practices focused on reducing climate change impacts, with a strong emphasis on involving young athletes at the heart of this initiative.

"Following the launch of SustainaBALL in Jordan, keeping these young athletes involved here in Qatar is a positive move forward for the program," Mr. Hagop Khajirian, FIBA Executive Director - Asia, said.

"The whole FIBA Regional Office-Asia has seen the success in the continued effort to push programs that positively impact both the basketball society and in general from the Ball'In Schools, Sports Performance Specialist (SPS), and Golden Jersey programs. We can't be happier to see SustainaBALL moving forward and hope to see more of the program in the future."

One of the key activations of the program's implementation in Qatar was the tree plantation, held on Tuesday, 19 September at Al Gharafa Park. The activity was also attended by Esam Abdullah Alhedo from the Public Parks Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Director of the Public Services Affairs Department in Al Rayyan Municipality.

In addition to being a key part of the SustainaBALL program, the tree-plantation was also included in the Initiative One Million Tree, an initiative released by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani committed to plant 10,000,000 trees by 2030.

The SustainaBALL initiative aims not only to reduce the environmental impact of basketball events in the region but to also educate fans and everyone else involved about the necessity and the benefits of pursuing sustainable goals.

FIBA