ATHENS (Greece) – During two FIBA events, the Hellenic Basketball Federation (HBF) hosted a series of Basketball For Good activations designed to strengthen social inclusion, promote environmental awareness, and highlight basketball’s role as a force for positive change.
These efforts, carried out at the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025 and the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2025, reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to leveraging basketball as a tool for youth empowerment, community engagement, and sustainable development — fully aligned with the FIBA Foundation’s mission to deepen the social legacy of basketball events.
Women’s EuroBasket: A Stage for Sustainability
The Federation placed sustainability at the heart of the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket, turning the tournament into a platform for circular practices and community support.
In partnership with the Hellenic Recycling Utilization Company, blue and waste-specific bins were installed both inside and outside the venues, making recycling accessible for athletes, spectators, and staff. All collected materials were sent to recycling industries, where they will be transformed into new products—contributing to Greece’s transition toward a circular economy.
The event also hosted the “Let Them Run Again” initiative, which focused on recycling and reusing sports shoes. By extending their lifecycle, the project not only reduced waste but also gave more people in need access to sports equipment, blending sustainability with social inclusion.
Beyond environmental impact, the HBF collaborated with StrongMe, an organization dedicated to the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence. The Federation supported the initiative by purchasing and distributing 1,000 awareness badges to the public, while also setting up an information booth where visitors could learn more about StrongMe’s work and access valuable resources.
This joint effort created a tangible impact with thousands of fans exposed to key messages around gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence.
In addition, the Federation embraced inclusivity by partnering with FIBA Foundation and Special Olympics to organize an on-court session for youth with intellectual disabilities. This collaboration added a powerful human dimension to the competition, highlighting basketball’s ability to unite people of all backgrounds under shared values of respect, diversity, and community.
Hoops for Hope
On July 8th at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, the “Hoops for Hope” initiative unfolded at the Indoor Sports Hall of Nea Alikarnassos in Heraklion, in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages.
20 children, 3 girls and 17 boys, took part in a 45–60-minute interactive session led by players and coaches of the U20 Hellenic National Team.
The program combined skill-based basketball games, team-building activities, and a values-based discussion on teamwork, respect, and resilience.
Children had the unique opportunity to engage directly with national athletes, learning both practical skills and life lessons. Each participant proudly received a specially designed “Hoops for Hope” T-shirt, symbolizing belonging and pride.
To close the experience, the children were invited to attend a U20 National Team game, cheering from the stands in their shirts — a visible reminder of basketball’s power to create moments of inclusion and joy.
A Legacy Beyond the Game
By uniting children, athletes, fans, and communities under shared values of inclusion, resilience, and sustainability, the Hellenic Basketball Federation ensured that the legacy of this summer’s events will live on well beyond the final buzzer.
Through Basketball For Good, Greece’s activations stand as an inspiring reminder of how sport can empower, connect, and build a better future.
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The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports 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.