SYDNEY (Australia) - When the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 arrives in Australia in Wangal Country this September, the Local Organizing Committee and FIBA will have been on a two-year journey to bring an authentic Australia tone to the event.

Under the guidance of Indigenous creative agency Campfire x, the Local Organizing Committee has been working hard to develop a new standard of cultural engagement across all facets of the upcoming World Cup, which tips off on September 22, enabling a lasting legacy to be left for basketball and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

An engagement program, which was established at its core with the creation of the event logo, was launched recently on Gadigal Country at a pick-up game at Alexandria Basketball Stadium by two former Australia national team players, Abby Cubillo who played in the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in 2017, and Bawali Bayles, who represented Australia at both the FIBA U19 and U17 Basketball World Cups in 2018 and 2021. 

Young players at the  engagement launch from a local Indigenous association

There are numerous initiatives and activities making up this program which include an Indigenous merchandise line, the recruitment of an Indigenous Engagement Officer, a community engagement program with the goal to embrace Australian First Nations communities through various activities, and event time integration through various activities for both players and fans. 

The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 logo was launched in 2021 and was designed by 14-year-old Aboriginal basketballer and artist Amarlie 'Marlii' Briscoe

Additionally, the NSW and Australian Governments are funding state and national legacy programs, which include education, participation and leadership programs for Indigenous and multicultural women and girls.

FIBA