MIES (Switzerland) – According to the World Health Organization, “over 5% of the world’s population – or 430 million people – have hearing loss severe enough to significantly impact daily communication and functioning.
And among these 430 million people, 34 million are children, and by 2050, this number is projected to double up.
It is this young demographic that the Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF) aims to target through its latest Basketball For Good initiative
Officially founded in 2002, DIBF has been tirelessly championing Basketball For People with Disabilities. In 2023, building on existing collaboration, FIBA formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DIBF to support its various activities that include Coaching Clinics, Referee Clinics and World Championships.
Earlier this year, supported through the FIBA Foundation’s Propose a Project program, and in partnership with the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), the first set of Youth Clinics in the Americas was successfully held.
While every supported project is using the power of basketball to initiate a positive change, what makes FIBA Foundation’s association with DIBF especially noteworthy is that it marks a partnership with an International Federation, combining grassroots impact with worldwide scale.
Deaf Youth Clinics in the Americas
From August 29 to 31, 2025, a three-day basketball clinic was conducted in Cochabamba, Bolivia, attended by 25 deaf campers.
After learning about the work of DIBF, through the use of sign language, participants were taken through dribbling, passing, shooting and teamwork exercises. The highlight was a ‘no dribbling’ practice match that encouraged communication and collaboration.
This was followed by a leadership workshop on September 1, before the DIBF team, led by Mr Dario Pignataro and Mr James DeStefano , travelled to El Dorado, Argentina for another three-day clinic, from September 5 to 7.
The Argentina clinic witnessed the participation of 14 deaf youth athletes aged 14-18. The participants did not only get the chance to enhance their basketball skills, but also to discover the city of Eldorado together, fostering their teamwork and collaboration skills.
Through the FIBA Foundation’s Propose A Project platform, DIBF received a financial grant to support and enhance the impact of the initiative.
“The Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF) is deeply grateful to the FIBA Foundation – Basketball for Good – for their meaningful collaboration and support for the Deaf youth in Bolivia and Argentina,” said Mr James DeStefano, DIBF Secretary General.
Together, we’re using basketball to break barriers, build confidence, and create lasting opportunities for young deaf people to believe in themselves and their dreams.
Future Plans
To tackle limited access to organized teaching for deaf basketball players, DIBF now aims to expand these clinics to other South American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Paraguay, building an educated and connected deaf basketball community.
What is Propose A Project?
Launched in 2020, FIBA Foundation’s Propose A Project aims to support global Basketball for Good efforts aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2025 alone, 73 projects out of a record 332 received submissions have been supported financially, through equipment or mentorship.
Applications for the FIBA Foundation’s 2026 Propose A Project will open in early January.
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The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.
The FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.
FIBA