GOLD COAST (Australia) - The inaugural FIBA Oceania 3x3 High Performance Camp, held on the Gold Coast, Australia last year, marked a significant milestone in the development of 3x3 basketball in the Oceania region.
This event, a collaborative effort between FIBA, Olympic Solidarity, PacificAus Sports, and The Gold Coast Council, brought together athletes, coaches, and referees from 15 National Federations, including American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti, and Vanuatu
The camp aligned with FIBA's strategic goals, in empowering national federations, developing youth basketball, and making 3x3 the most thrilling urban sport
By providing a platform for high-level training and competition, the camp aimed to enhance the skills of participants, and to foster a deeper love for the game. This initiative is part of FIBA's broader strategy to strengthen the capacity of national federations and promote basketball as a unifying global sport.
“This is the first time we have coordinated an event such as this, and with the support of Olympic Solidarity, and PacificAus Sports we were able to deliver an event that had equal focus on and off the court,” FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins said.
“The feedback from all participants highlighted their appreciation and desire to not only learn more about the 3x3 discipline, but to improve their preparations off the court with nutrition and recovery techniques. Education around gender equality was also presented with a lot of participants indicating that these education sessions provided them with new, and crucial information to share and endorse within their communities.”
Olympic Solidarity's involvement underscores the importance of supporting grassroots sports development and aligns with their global objectives of empowering National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to keep athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement
The camp not only provided training and development opportunities but also promoted the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. This collaboration highlights the commitment of both organisations to creating a more inclusive and accessible basketball world.
Participants had the opportunity to learn from experienced mentors, refine their skills, and compete at a high level, setting the stage for future success on the international stage. The camp's comprehensive approach included athlete development, coach education, and referee training, ensuring that all aspects of the game were covered.
This holistic development model is expected to leave a lasting legacy in the region, inspiring the next generation of 3x3 basketball stars and contributing to the sport's growth globally
“I started playing 3x3 three years ago and I love how much freedom you have in the game to play with you team,” Vanuatu 3x3 athlete, Christina Kasten said. “The 3x3 training has been really good and I can see improvement in my game, and I also learnt a lot about nutrition and recovery, what I should be doing and eating pre, and post-game has been really good.”
Under the strategic framework established by the inaugural FIBA Oceania 3x3 High Performance Camp, a tangible return on investment in athlete, coach, and referee development is now evident. The Pacific Mini Games will function as a key performance indicator for the region's Under-23 teams participating in the FIBA 3x3 Nations League, offering a competitive environment to benchmark progress.
Furthermore, this platform will serve as a crucial preparatory phase for the Nations League, particularly now with the opportunity for direct qualification into the Commonwealth Games, underscoring the long-term vision of this collaborative initiative. The foundational work executed during the Gold Coast camp is projected to yield sustained growth and enhanced competitiveness for Oceania in the global 3x3 landscape, cultivating a pipeline of talent poised for future success and elevating the region's standing within international competitions.
About FIBA
FIBA (fiba.basketball) - the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 212 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognized as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
For further information about FIBA, visit fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on facebook.com/fiba, twitter.com/fiba, instagram.com/fiba, linkedin.com/fiba and youtube.com/fiba.
About PacificAus Sports
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program supports a range of Pacific sports, including basketball, rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, AFL, cricket and Olympic/Paralympic sports, with funding split evenly between women and men.
PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific. For more information about PacificAus Sports and its initiatives, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.