SINGAPORE (Singapore) – The 2024 Asian Youth Leadership Seminar successfully took place in mid-September in Singapore, coinciding with the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, bringing together 16 youth leaders for an enriching journey.

The 2024 Asian Youth Leadership program involves 17 Youth Leaders aged 19 to 34 from 10 different Asian countries. They were nominated by their respective National Federations (NFs) and will be responsible for developing the Basketball For Good movement within their region.

It kicked off with two online sessions in early September, allowing the participants to get to know each other, learn more about identifying social issues in their community, and how to use basketball to address these topics.

The Youth Leaders then traveled to Singapore to take part in the Seminar hosted at the Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC) from 12 to 15 September, alongside the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and the FIBA Hall of Fame 2024.

During the 4-days workshop, they delved into the development of their own Basketball For Good projects with the guidance of the FIBA Foundation and GSIC.

On the first day, the participants had the opportunity to learn from FIBA Legend Tim Hardaway, who visited to share his experience and advice.

The highlight of the seminar was the project pitches session, where the youth leaders had to present their Basketball For Good project to a panel featuring FIBA Foundation Senior Manager Theren Bullock Jr., FIBA Executive Director Asia, Hagop Khajirian, and FIBA Executive Director Oceania, Amanda Jenkins.

Alongside prizes for the top three presentations, offering additional support for project implementation, this session offered participants a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and gain insights from the expertise of the panel members. The interaction allowed the youth leaders to receive constructive feedback, deepen their understanding, and refine their initiatives for greater impact.

To conclude the seminar, the Youth Leaders took on the responsibility of leading the Basketball For Good clinic, working with local disabled children from Special Olympics Singapore and SportsCares, who coordinated and oversaw the event.

Besides the workshop, the Youth Leaders engaged in parallel activities, including the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Ceremony, where they actively contributed to the event's preparations, and the Basketball Matters Conference, which brought together sports advocates to discuss various topics.

These experiences have equipped the Youth Leaders with valuable skills and a deeper understanding of the sport's potential to foster social good. Now back in their respective countries, the Youth Leaders are tasked with delivering their projects.

As they continue their journey, the impact of their leadership and initiatives will resonate across Asia, showcasing the power of basketball as a tool for development and community engagement.

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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.

FIBA