FIBA - Women’s basketball ambassadors tip-off roles with FIBA Europe

EKATERINBURG - A number of European women's basketball legends have started in their new roles as ambassadors for the sport with FIBA Europe.

Les Bleus guard Edwige Lawson-Wade, former Russian national team star Ilona Korstin and ex-FIBA Europe Player of the Year and Czech legend, Hana Horakova were all on hand to help out at the UMMC Ekaterinburg Academy last week.

Joined by recently appointed FIBA Europe Youth ambassador Natasa Kovacevic who was a hugely popular figure on the day, the quartet spent an afternoon with 50 youth players at a mini-tournament for young players.

Indeed some even briefly got themselves back onto the court in a playing capacity to demonstrate to the youngsters how it is done.

Taking place at the purpose-built Arena in Verkhnyaya Pyshma which serves as the base for all UMMC youth basketball and occasionally EuroLeague Women games for the senior UMMC team, the participants received plenty of coaching advice, received gifts and then had time afterwards to mingle with the legends.

"It was important that the children were able to reach out to us and ask questions to realise that we are real people," explained Korstin, with a smile afterwards.

The event was also attended by acting FIBA Europe President Cyriel Coomans, FIBA Europe Secretary General Kamil Novak and FIBA Europe board member Lena Wallin-Kantzy.

"When we appointed our ambassadors I was interested to see how it would work in practice, but we have now seen how very important this project is," said Coomans.

"To watch the girls be so happy and spending so much time waiting patiently to get photos and autographs after the tournament had finished was amazing and very special."

Meanwhile Novak added, "These girls will certainly not forget this day for a long, long time.

"What the ambassadors have done is show their value of being role models and also inspiring young players.

"It's certainly a great facility and project which UMMC have."

He also explained the fundamental purpose of their new position which is to interact with young female players and promote basketball to them as a viable career path, as both a player and beyond when their playing days come to an end.

He added, "For varying reasons, a high number of women's players are failing to go on and continue playing past youth level.

"We need to address this issue and remind them that being a professional player is far from easy, but the rewards are plentiful and there is a future for them in the sport."

Spanish legend Amaya Valdemoro joined her fellow ambassadors the following day at the EuroLeague Women Final.

"When I started playing there was no internet and it was difficult to find out about women's player,” recalled Valdemoro.

"Instead, I had to pick male players as my role models."

However, Valdemoro admitted that the transition into retirement has been difficult and she has only recently been able to bring herself to watch games again and joked, "I came to the Final Eight to finish that rehabilitation process.

The ambassadors are all now preparing to educate young players at the FIBA Europe women's youth tournaments over the summer.

FIBA