August 10 - Emotions were running high on the fourth and final day of Basketball without Borders Europe in Paris.

The campers started the day with a Life Skills seminar, led by UNICEF to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS education and prevention. The campers discussed different ways the disease spreads and how they can play their role in stopping it becoming a pandemic in their home countries. Chris Duhon of the Chicago Bulls was with the campers and spoke to them about the importance of education and about his experience at Basketball without Borders Asia last month. “When I was in China we saw a film about HIV/Aids prevention. There were people that thought that the disease could be spread by just breathing on someone. It’s really important to educate yourselves about the disease, how it spreads and what can be done to stop it.”

Perhaps the most important lesson the young players learnt about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is that HIV is referred to as a pandemic which just means that it has circumnavigated the globe. There is no country that isn’t affected in some way.

Following the seminar, the basketball action wrapped up in the gym at Stade Pierre de Coubertin coached by the NBA players and coaches. “We have a very good group here in this camp, they are young, between 16 and 17 years old and some are very skilled with a lot of potential,” said Brian Hill of the New Jersey Nets.

At the end of the regular competition the coaches announced the campers who had made it to the Basketball without Borders All-Star Teams. The two teams were comprised of the best talent from the camp based on a selection made by the NBA coaches including players from 13 different European countries.

During the All-Star Game, which was opened to the public, the action was intense and the competition tough. At half-time fans enjoyed a Three-Point Shooting Contest, presented by HANNspree, which saw camper Harald Debelka from Germany go head-to-head against Chris Duhon of the Chicago Bulls and win a TV!

The team led by Bo Outlaw (Orlando Magic) and Mickael Pietrus (Golden State Warriors), Don Newman (San Antonio Spurs), Neal Meyer and Rory White (Los Angeles Clippers) won the game with a big lead.

Elio Sadiku from France was named Nike All-Star Game MVP and received Nike Sneakers, signed by fellow French man and NBA player Mickael Pietrus of the Golden State Warriors, and a Nike Watch MVP. Nika Metreveli from Georgia took the honour of MVP of the Camp and received a signed Spalding basketball signed by Pietrus.

All the campers received best wishes from everyone at the camp, players and coaches and many were sad to be leaving. But it wasn’t just the young players who had enjoyed the camp.

“I really appreciated this camp. There were several French NBA players and to come to my home country is just fantastic, helping the community like we did in Sarcelles, and it’s great to be able to coach future talents,” said Mickael Pietrus, Golden State Warriors.