FIBA Europe Endorses Sixth Basketball Week

For the sixth consecutive year, FIBA Europe endorsed the annual Special Olympics European Basketball Week in Brussels, Belgium on 27, October 2009.  The event, which opens more opportunities for people with intellectual disability to enjoy the game, will be
held from 28 November to 6 December 2009 across Europe and Central Asia.

The 2009 Basketball Week is expected to involve 15,000 basketball players with intellectual disabilities from 30 countries in a wide range of activities. Basketball Week is the flagship event of the partnership between FIBA Europe and Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia (SOEE) that was established in May 2004 with the aim of developing basketball for players with intellectual disabilities. Since then, the number of Special Olympics players in the region has increased from 13,000 to 53,000 players.

This year, the theme of the week will be Unified Basketball enabling people with and without intellectual disabilities to play on integrated teams. Unified Sports® has proven for Special Olympics to not only develop sports skills of athletes but also change attitudes and break down barriers to inclusion. Another emphasis of the week will be on womens basketball with a focus on increasing the number of female players.

One of the highlights of the partnership has been the involvement of national basketball federations and professional clubs.
“FIBA Europe continues its endorsement of the Special Olympics European Basketball Week as part of its commitment to develop basketball for everyone in society to enjoy,” said Nar Zanolin, Secretary General, FIBA Europe.

“We are delighted that FIBA Europe and the national basketball federations and professional clubs continue to support Special Olympics players through initiatives like European Basketball Week that lead to more acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities,” said Mary Davis, Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia. “Unified Basketball is crucial to Special Olympics being able to use sport as a catalyst for respect, acceptance and inclusion,” she continued.