3x3 - Interview with Simon Prahm of GAM3

COPENHAGEN (3x3) - Simon Prahm is a natural when it comes to 3x3 basketball. For almost ten years he has been organising and promoting this discipline throughout Denmark and in its innovative capital city, Copenhagen.

For Simon 3x3 basketball isn't just an electrifying sport but also a means to bridge cultural and ethnic differences. Since 2007 they've expanded in the Middle East; to give the youth an opportunity to come together and make the world a better place.
 

 

 

Organizer's Profile
Name/Surname: Simon Prahm
Studies: University of Copenhagen - BA degree in Sports Studies
Current Activities: Co-founder and Managing Director at GAM3 - a nonprofit organization whose purpose it is to empower the youth and prevent conflict and marginalization through sports.


To watch the Highlights of the GAM3 dunk contest click here.

FIBA: What does GAM3 stand for?
We just call it "Game" and we write the "E" like a reverse "3". It symbolises 3x3 basketball because that's what started the whole thing.

FIBA: Where and how did it all start?
It started in Denmark back in 2002, I'm one of the founders and it's almost been ten years now. Or more precisely it started in Copenhagen and that's also where we hold our bigger tournaments.

We also host 18 qualification tournaments throughout the whole country. Not to mention that since 2007 we've also been in the Middle East mainly in Lebanon, we call it "GAM3 Lebanon".

FIBA: Why did you choose Lebanon?
Well basically because we got the opportunity. The way we work here in Denmark is that we try to reach out to the immigrant communities. We thought that basketball had a unique potential to bring people together. Because you see all the black and white role models in the NBA and all the kids know them.

We found that using basketball was a good tool to reach out to these groups.  We were approached by a donor who works in the Middle East. They thought it would make sense to unfold those ideas in the Middle Eastern countries.

In a country like Lebanon you have so many different sects and religious groups that just can't get along. That's why four years ago we started promoting 3x3 over there.

FIBA:  You just mentioned that it's been four years since GAM3 started to promote 3x3 in Lebanon. How has it developed since?
In the beginning we were the organisation implementing the activities but now we've build an assist to the organisation.  It actually has a central board which makes its own decisions, fund raising etc. The last two years we haven't been funding.

This past week I was in Lebanon because we're working on a new partnership project with GAM3 Lebanon.  We hope to work with a Women's Rights Organisation and make that our future project. 
 

We've noticed that combining a competitive sport works very well because that way you can attract groups that wouldn't necessarily show up if it were a different activity.

Sports in general but mainly Streetball really drives movements like these in the right direction. We use all of the elements DJ's, breakdance and so on to showcase the Street culture.

FIBA: What does a typical GAM3 tournament look like?
In typical tournament we would have a DJ playing Vinyl's an hour before the games starts. We often start with a two hour basketball workshop where everyone can join in. 

The tournaments normally start in the afternoon so everyone can come along and enjoy the good spirit. It's a fun time for both the spectators and trainers as well. 

FIBA:  We've heard that you have found a great alternative in case of rain. What is it?
Funny you ask because for the GAM3 finals this year we were hit by rain which meant that our good planning was ruined. But we have a great solution for situations like these; we go to our StreetMekka.

This was a project that we had been working on for seven years and it was finished last year. Essentially it's an indoor street; meaning that we paved the 2200 square meters with asphalt. Then we put up basketball units and now people can come here every day and play in a warm place. 

What's worth mentioning is that the city of Copenhagen financed the 22 million kroner (4 million dollars) project to establish the place. The best part is that they asked us to run the place so they pay us half a million US dollars a year to keep it up and running. 

We are very fortunate and thankful for this and we don't plan to stop.  We have four more such projects across the country but there's still a long ways to go.

FIBA: What were your first thoughts and impressions when you heard that FIBA was getting involved with 3x3 basketball?
To be honest with you I kind said to myself "Finally" because I think it makes so much sense. I believe that there is so much potential with 3x3 however I know that the situation from country to country is different as to how basketball is organised.

From my experience in Denmark and in the Middle East, basketball is more for those who have resources. That's why it makes sense to take it to the streets because it will also help grow the number of players if you do it right. Basketball in itself is fun to watch but 3x3 is even better so that can also attract a wider audience. 

The most important part is that you are able to reach a group that isn't playing basketball and in turn get them interested in the sport.  And going back to the Middle East; it's all about access and it's so expensive to be a member of one the sports club. At the moment it's still not accessible to everyone so I hope that FIBA makes this as one of their main objectives.

FIBA: How is GAM3's relationship with the Danish Basketball Federation?
The Federation really liked the whole FIBA 3x3 idea so they were really open about it and our relation to them has been strengthen.

We are now organising the whole events together, that means that the winner of the GAM3 finals can go to World Tour. We are both very excited about next year's major events.

FIBA: How did the Federation approach you?
In the beginning the Federation used to organise their own tournaments but they thought that it would be wiser if we combined our initiatives. So they suggested that we run the tournaments together and that's what we've been doing ever since.

FIBA: Where in your opinion will 3x 3 have a big impact in the next couple of years?
I think that it will have a particular success in the expanding economies as opposed to Europe and the USA where people are already playing 3x3. If you take Africa, South America, Asia and so on then that's where I believe you will see a passion for this sport. It would be wise to specifically work with those regions because that's where it's happening.

FIBA:  What is your drive and passion for this sport?
For me it's really about the grassroots and seeing the enthusiasm in others who start playing.  Myself I play once a week because I never get tired of it. To me, just to be able to see the kids and participants that we work with; that's really worth all of it!


FIBA