- Top players from 25 European countries to take part in Istanbul Camp -

LONDON AND ISTANBUL, May 22, 2008 – The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) today announced more than 50 of the top athletes from across the continent will participate in Basketball without Borders Europe, a basketball instructional camp for young people that promotes friendship, healthy living and education. BwB, with leading local partner Turk Telekom, will feature Turkish Basketball stars Mehmet Okur of the Utah Jazz and Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic, in addition to current NBA players and team personnel, who will serve as camp coaches.

Players representing 25 countries across Europe, including five from Turkey, were selected by FIBA, TBF and the NBA, in conjunction with participating basketball federations, based on their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport. Held for the second time in Turkey, Basketball without Borders Europe is scheduled to take place on June 4- 7 in Istanbul at Darüssafaka, Ayhan Sahenk Spor Salonu. The Darüssafaka Association was founded in 1863 and continues to create educational opportunities for orphans at Darussafaka High School. The Darüssafaka Association has supported basketball for over 50 years with by Darüssafaka Sports Club, which is a long established member of the Turkish Basketball League.

This year's camp will mark a return of two Turkish NBA players, Okur and Turkoglu, in addition to Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs), Randy Foye (Minnesota Timberwolves), David Lee (New York Knicks) and Mickael Pietrus (Golden State Warriors) who will serve as camp coaches and mentors. Marin Sedlacek ( Serbia), who is a FIBA Expert for Europe, Asia and Africa with more than 25 years of coaching experience, will serve as camp director for the eighth time.

In addition to basketball instruction, the players and coaches will lead life-skills seminars that promote education, leadership, character development, health and wellness throughout the four-day event. Highlights of the camp will include extensive community outreach efforts that will culminate with the unveiling of a place for children to live, learn and play in Istanbul. Basketball without Borders Europe will feature Nike, Turk Telekom and Spalding as marketing partners. A Basketball without Borders marketing partner since 2002, Nike will again outfit all the camp participants and coaches with Nike footwear and apparel.

To date, Basketball without Borders has featured over 250 current and former NBA players, coaches and team personnel from 30 different teams who have served as camp coaches and mentors for over 1200 young athletes from more than 100 countries and territories on five continents. Last year, Basketball without Borders took place in Shanghai, China; São Paulo, Brazil; Paris, France; and Johannesburg, South Africa.

The following is a complete list of players participating in Basketball without Borders Europe 2008: