FIBA signs Memorandum of Understanding with Olympafrica Foundation
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Olympafrica Foundation that will pave the way for thousands of children across the continent to benefit from basketball, and 3×3 in particular.
Established in 1988, the Olympafrica Foundation aims to spread the Olympic spirit by offering a wide range of sporting and social activities for the benefit of communities in Africa, with a particular focus on young people.
Through the power of sport, Olympafrica’s programmes have had a significant positive impact and the MOU with FIBA will help to continue and increase these welcome results. Both parties will work together across Africa to promote:
Sport and sport education in general, with a strong focus on basketball and 3×3 in particular.
Social, economic and personal development through sport, especially for those younger participants.
young people in Africa.”
The values and ideals of the Olympic Movement.
The MoU is underpinned by the support of the FIBA Regional Office in Africa, which will donate basketball equipment to the Olympafrica centres hosting the programme. FIBA’s support will also include the provision of coaching, officiating and training.
Olympafrica already has extensive experience in setting up sports and sports education centres. The programme will initially be implemented in 20 centres, with Olympafrica responsible for actively promoting basketball locally by organising development programmes, events and competitions. Olympafrica will also ensure that at least one thousand children under the age of sixteen participate in each of the centres.
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FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave said, “This Memorandum of Understanding confirms once again how important basketball can be for communities and the positive way in which it can bring people together and help them off the court. We are delighted to be partnering with Olympafrica and look forward to launching the programme and seeing the benefits it will bring to the children.”
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis commented, “The existing centres run by the Olympafrica Foundation have a track record of success and we are very confident that basketball can now be used even more actively as a lever to achieve positive outcomes for
Olympafrica President Mustapha Berraf stated, “This agreement comes at the right time and is greatly appreciated. It will help to reinforce the already strong attraction that Olympafrica kids have for basketball. 3×3 basketball will definitely be one of the most played sports in our network”.
Olympafrica CEO, Alassane Thierno Diack, said: “Olympafrica is very keen to increase access to 3×3 basketball for young girls and boys who regularly use our centres. Many of our young people are interested in basketball, so we are very pleased that this MOU will do just that – help us use basketball to reach out to more young people and promote their social and personal development.”