Basketball fans to embrace the joy of movement and celebrations for Paris 2024

MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA is supporting the Let's Move and Celebrate initiative that encourages everyone to embrace the joy of movement for Paris 2024 to help achieve better mental and physical health.

Let's Move and Celebrate is the theme of this year's Olympic Day - established in 1948 as an annual global celebration of sport and getting active. It also commemorates the day the International Olympic Committee  (IOC) was founded in 1894 – the birth of the modern Olympic Games.

 
Working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and sport governing bodies around the world, the IOC are inspiring people to enjoy moving, participating in sports fun and showing their support for athletes.

The joy and unique spirit of sport is also something encapsulated in the athlete celebration – an iconic and important moment of any Olympic Games.  Whether it's a triumphant celebratory dance after a vital basket, a legendary pose after victory, or an exchange of raw emotion with teammates or passionate fans inside the Arena.

People are being encouraged to create or re-enact their favorite athlete celebration moves, whether it be dance steps, iconic poses, or simple sports actions. Fans can choose to move in their own special way and then share their moves on social media platforms by tagging @Olympics and using #LetsMove.

This gives the millions of basketball fans around the world much to think about and not least, which of the many star names they might want to be inspired by and also tag into their social posts.

There will be much to enjoy for basketball fans at Paris 2024 and even before it gets underway. The last four remaining tickets for the men's competition will be determined at what promises to be four spectacular FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments across July 2 to 7 in Riga, Piraeus, Valencia and San Juan.

The USA Women's team will be looking to secure their 8th straight Olympic gold medal in Paris.  

The Men's and Women's Olympic Basketball Tournaments Paris 2024 will take place across July 27 to August 11, while only the second ever edition of 3X3 at the Games will be played between July 30 and August 5.

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis stated: "Olympic Day always feels extra special when it falls during a year when we're all looking forward to another edition of the Games, and especially so close to the four upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments which are about to tip off in Greece, Latvia, Puerto Rico and Spain.  

FIBA also encourages fans to do everything they can to get playing basketball as much as possible - not only on Olympic Day. Moving daily improves mental wellbeing and physical health, with people often more likely to maintain consistent exercise routines when activities are enjoyable and accessible.

IOC President Thomas Bach underlined the importance of the Let's Move and Celebrate initiative, which was launched last year and saw over 1,000 athletes participate, with more than 15 million people around the world participating in physical activity on Olympic Day 2023.

He said: "Athletes from all corners of the world and backgrounds are getting ready to participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

"The athletes at the Games will inspire and encourage people everywhere to bring more movement to their lives, making it healthier, better and more joyful. We are very thankful that we could partner up with WHO again for this very important campaign," concluded Bach.

 FIBA