NBA glamour on display in South Africa

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An array of NBA stars were in South Africa last week for 'Basketball Without Borders Africa', a basketball camp for young people, which promotes friendship, education and healthy living with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

The camp took place at the American International school in Johannesburg from the sixth to the 10th of September.

The American International school in Johannesburg played host to the fourth 'Basketball Without Borders Africa' earlier this month.

The annual camp has been hugely successful both in raising the level of basketball played, but also in community outreach and development in Johannesburg and the surrounding townships.

The campers - all under 19 years - were selected from across the continent by FIBA and participating basketball federations based on their on-court skills, leadership skills and dedication to the game.

The campers were divided into teams without regard for race or nationality.

They shared living quarters with their new team-mates and participated in daily motivational life-skills seminars that promoted education, leadership and character development.

There was a particular emphasis placed on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

"It's a way to use the game and really reach out to the community and give back. Here in Africa, this is a special event. This is the fourth year. The kids look forward to it. They talk about it throughout the course of the year. And every year they've gotten better. I'm very proud of the work our players go out and do in the communities here in Soweto, Capetown, Alexandria, all the townships. Just the way we've given back.": Amadou Fall, Dallas Mavericks international scout, Camp Director (Senegal).

The camp was highlighted by extensive community outreach activities.

The program included a return visit to the Ithuteng Trust, a Youth Empowerment Program founded in 1990 by Jackey "Mama Jackey" Maarohanye, in Pimville, South Africa, where a US Embassy-funded dining hall was opened.

A new kitchen, dining hall and bathroom facility was also inaugurated at the Soweto Kliptown Youth Trust (SKY), where a Learn & Play Centre was opened last year.

NBA and FIBA also donated products, such as basketballs, rims and sporting goods to local basketball federations and communities.

Through 'Basketball Without Borders', five Learn & Play Centres and six new or refurbished basketball courts have been opened outside the United States and Canada.

Centres are located at Vila Olimpica de Jornalista Ary de Carvalho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Escuela Benjam?n Zorrilla Distrito Escolar in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Hui Lei School in Beijing, China and at Ithuteng Trust and at SKY Trust in Johannesburg, South Africa