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Share on FacebookThe program, a basketball instructional camp for young people that also promotes friendship, healthy living and education, will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 28-July 3; Treviso, Italy, July 24-27, and Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 6-10.
Each Basketball Without Borders camp will feature current and former NBA players and coaching personnel -- acting as camp coaches -- and will unite young players from across each region to take part in basketball instruction and competition, share living quarters with their new teammates and participate in daily seminars. The NBA and FIBA also will donate products such as basketballs, rims and nets to local basketball federations. The seminars will promote education, leadership and healthy living and HIV/AIDS and drug abuse education and prevention.
"The NBA is committed to use the sport of basketball as an international language to promote global friendship and sportsmanship," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "Through Basketball Without Borders, we bring together young people from all walks of life to create important dialogue and to teach them about important social issues such as HIV/AIDS education and prevention."
"With the great cooperation shown in the success of the first three camps in Europe since 2001, the expansion to bring Basketball Without Borders to Africa and the Americas will give the opportunity to more youngsters to improve their skills both on-and-off the court and to meet their basketball idols," said FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann. "This is a first step towards making this venture truly international, and further proving that basketball is a universal language, jointly promoted by FIBA and the NBA."
In Brazil and South Africa, the camps will be highlighted by extensive community outreach activities throughout the area and an NBA Community Legacy Project, the NBA's premiere community initiative, which ranges from a refurbished recreation facility, donated books, furniture, Dell computers and additional educational materials, and/or the creation of a state-of-the-art Reading and Learning Center.
Last year's trip to South Africa included Read to Achieve events and the unveiling of a Reading and Learning Center at Ithuteng Trust, a Youth Empowerment Program founded in 1990 by Jackey "Mama Jackey" Maarohanye, in Pimville, South Africa. Most of the students come from extremely poverty-stricken families and the majority are orphans due to political violence, crime and AIDS.
As a part of the NBA's Read to Achieve program, the NBA and its teams have created Reading and Learning Centers that provide access to reading materials and technology for young people. To date, the NBA and its teams have created 75 Reading and Learning Centers and more than 100 Reading Corners to enhance local reading programs across North America and last year's Reading and Learning Center in South Africa marked the first center opened outside the United States and Canada.
"Basketball Without Borders is a perfect complement of community outreach and basketball development," said NBA Legend and Community Ambassador Bob Lanier. "NBA players have an extraordinary ability and commitment to touch the lives of young fans all over the world".
Basketball Without Borders Americas will take place June 28-July 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the Fortaleza São João with 50 young players age 16-17 from across Latin America and the Caribbean. This will be the NBA's third trip to Latin America for a basketball instructional camp. The program Latinos Unidos, community relations outreach in Latin America, took place in July 2002 and 2003.
This year, Brazilian natives Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix Suns) and Nenê (Denver Nuggets) will lead a contingent of NBA assistant coaches and players including Dallas Mavericks forward Eduardo Najera (Mexico), New York Knicks center Dikembe Mutombo (Congo) and former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Felipe Lopez, who will act as coaches for the camp.
Basketball Without Borders Europe will take place July 24-27 in Treviso, Italy at La Ghirada, the state-of-the-art basketball facility, one hour north of Venice. This will mark the NBA's fourth trip to Europe and third visit to La Ghirada for Basketball Without Borders.
The camp will feature the top 50 young players age 16-17 from across Europe. Boston Celtics forward-guard Jiri Welsch (Czech Republic) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Stanislav Medvedenko (Ukraine) will lead a group of NBA current and former players and coaching personnel, who will take part as camp coaches. The camp is sponsored by Champion, Nike, Spalding, and United Colors of Benetton, among others. The seminars with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, will focus on AIDS/HIV prevention and education.
Basketball Without Borders Africa will be the NBA's fifth event in Africa and will take place Sept. 6-10 in Johannesburg, South Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg. The school played host to last year's Africa 100 Camp. A contingent of NBA players from Africa, including Mutombo and NBA coaching personnel from 10 different teams, will serve as coaches for the camp that will bring together 100 young players age 16-20 from across Africa.
In addition to basketball instruction, the campers will attend daily seminars on AIDS/HIV prevention and education led by loveLife, South Africa's national HIV prevention program for youth. Building on extensive community relations outreach activities during last year's visit, the event also will feature Read to Achieve events, Basketball and Books Clinics and an NBA Legacy Project at Ithuteng Trust. The camp is sponsored by Molten, Reebok, South African Airways, Spalding and Sprite, among others.
NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad
