PIRAEUS (Greece) – From July 2 to 7, while the high intensity Olympic Qualifying Tournament was underway, the Hellenic Basketball Federation (HBF) in association with FIBA Foundation was creating history of a different kind.

Various Basketball For Good actions matched the on-court heroics, championing sustainability, inclusion and wellness.

Among National Federations, HBF has always been incredibly proactive and creative in terms of organizing impactful activities through its CSR department.

Indoor and outdoor initiatives

In accordance with its Social and Environmental Responsibility Strategy called ‘HBF+’, a number of indoor and outdoor initiatives were executed at the Peace and Friendship Stadium.

In the outdoor area, interactive pre-game workshops were conducted for hundreds of fans on health-related topics ranging from mental health, first aid training, nutrition, addictions and communicable diseases. Additionally, 3x3 games were organized for 40 people from local mental health centers, along with their carers.

An inclusion area was set up for as many as 150 displaced adults and children from refugee camps and disability shelters. A team of volunteers of HBF were on hand to ensure their comfortable viewing experience with snacks and refreshments.

Special Court for the Blind

Perhaps the most impressive effort was the special model basketball court that was set up for visually impaired people to follow the Greece versus Egypt game haptically. This Basketball For Good action became extra memorable thanks to the participation of Greek basketball legend and FIBA Hall of Famer Nick Galis.

Not to be left behind, a recycling and waste management plan was in place with as many as 150 recycling bins diverting tonnes of packaging waste thereby reducing the environmental impact of this high-footfall event.

At the end of the tournament, HBF also donated 500 units of snacks and juices for impoverished and homeless people in Piraeus, Nikaia and Athens.

Collaborative Effort

Besides HBF’s design and implementation, and FIBA Foundation’s financial, technical and organizational support, a number of specialist organizations made these diverse campaigns an overwhelming success. These include the Panhellenic Association of the Blind, Association of Special Education Teachers, Hellenic Red Cross, Alzheimer Athens, OKANA, EPAPSY, Hellenic Association of Dietitians Nutritionists, PRAKSIS, UNESCO Club Piraeus & Islands, HERRCO, Lighthouse Relief, Special Olympics Hellas, KEA-Chara and Anixti Agkalia.

All activities were designed and implemented by HBF's CSR department, led by FIBA Youth Leaders Zacharias Stagakis and Gina Kyriazopoulou. Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Secretary General, and Evangelos Liolios, FIBA Foundation Board Member & HBF President actively participated and also thanked all the organizations and their volunteers for their contribution.

***

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.

FIBA