Hellenic Basketball Federation introduces effective social actions at FIBA U20 European Championship
HERAKLION (Greece) - The Hellenic Basketball Federation introduced a set of social actions for the participants and fans of the FIBA U20 European Championship, as well as the citizens of the host city.
HERAKLION (Greece) - In order to illustrate the power of basketball to contribute to a better world, the Hellenic Basketball Federation (HBF) introduced a set of social actions for the participants and fans of the FIBA U20 European Championship, as well as the citizens of the host city.
The 2023 edition of the tournament, featuring 16 national teams from across Europe, took place in Heraklion, Greece, between July 8-16.
The initiatives, which included a disability awareness workshop or a testicular cancer campaign, followed the European FIBA Foundation Youth Leadership seminar at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball. Each action was focused on a specific Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and coordinated by FIBA Foundation Youth Leader Zacharias Stagakis.
The following actions were introduced during the event:
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
In collaboration with the Hellenic Urological Association Patient Office, and the endorsement of the Patient Office of the European Association of Urology, the HBF initiated an evidence-based campaign titled “Check your Balls” concerning testicular cancer. The HBF’s main aim is to raise awareness of testicular cancer, and prompt early detection. Free testing for the public, handing out of information materials to players, as well as seminars within the teams were all conducted illustrating an educational video, while “Check Your Balls” became the event’s motto.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The final goal in tackling SDG#10 is to promote inclusion through basketball. To achieve this, HBF collaborated with NGO Kinitro to deliver a basketball-related and experiential disability awareness workshop called “Labyrinth of Senses”. Held on July 15, the initiative was held at the city center of Heraklion and gave people the chance to be educated and familiarized with all kinds of disabilities. The workshop was used as a catalyst to activate and inform the public about disability, accessibility, and inclusion.
Further pushing the inclusion narrative, the HBF introduced its first haptic representation of a basketball court that was created with the aim to support blind people in attending basketball games.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The Federation sought to enhance sustainable development initiatives through various collaborative and partnering agreements.
The expertise of each contributor towards helping wave the Basketball For Good flag during the event proved that although from different fields of specialization, the desire to achieve sustainable development is a commonly shared goal across all avenues.
United under one footprint, the following entities joined the HBF in successfully carrying out the social actions at the event; Hellenic Urological Association (HUA), HUA’s Patient Office and the Patient Office of the European Association of Urology, NGO Kinitro, Radio Family 89.5, Hellenic Red Cross, TV Creta & SKAI Kritis 92,1 FM, Municipality of Heraklion, Crete Public Health Office, and most importantly volunteers.
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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.