MIES (Switzerland) – Imagine watching EuroBasket 2025 action from the sidelines and then being called on court yourself at halftime!
That was just one of the many treats in store for the participants of the Basketball For Good initiatives undertaken during the continent’s marquee men’s basketball competition.
Basketball For Good takes center stage
Continuing the ongoing efforts to enhance the long-term social impact and legacy of FIBA events, a series of Basketball For Good actions was hosted.
The primary objective behind these initiatives was to promote social inclusion through sport, promoting basketball for all, raising awareness, and increasing participation in physical activity and volunteering.
Europe’s First ‘Unified Basketball Camp’
The first activity was a coaching and inclusion webinar series that shared best practices and advice. It featured guest speaker Lauri Aaltonen, who participated in the Youth Leadership program in 2023 and now coordinates Special Olympics activities in Finland.
Building on this, Europe’s first-ever International Unified Basketball Camp was held in Tampere, Finland, in collaboration with Special Olympics, giving participants with disabilities from Finland, Lithuania, and Bulgaria the opportunity to experience the EuroBasket in a truly memorable way.
Half-time Takeover
While on Day One, the campers broke the ice through competition watch parties, training drills, swimming and sauna, Day Two witnessed the once-in-a-lifetime experience of playing on the main court at the half-time of the game between Lithuania and future EuroBasket champion Germany.
Concluding the Finland leg, an inclusive volunteer program was held, with a focus on creating and strengthening positive community experiences for migrants and people with disabilities.
Carrying the momentum into the final phase
Later, as the competitive action shifted to Riga, Latvia, the drive for inclusion was also embraced at the final stage of the FIBA EuroBasket, with another Basketball For Good half-time game for youth with intellectual disabilities in collaboration with Special Olympics and FIBA Foundation.
Besides the chance of being in the spotlight of the prestigious event and close to their idols, all participants also took home their own t-shirt and Molten basketball.
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The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
The FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.
FIBA