GOLD COAST (Australia) - The FIBA and WINS Social Media Program tipped off in Oceania this year, offering women unique opportunities to develop media skills, engage with their communities, and amplify their voices.
Belinda Delana from Fiji was identified through this program as a scholarship recipient and gained valuable experiences at the recent FIBA U15 Oceania Cups in Australia.
"There are a few experiences in life that are etched to your heart for a lifetime," Delana said. "Though the FIBA U15 Oceania Cups only lasted a week, it was an experience I'll always look back and reminisce about. Being a young woman of the Pasifika, it was an emotional experience to witness and contribute to all the joy and pride that comes with competing and attending FIBA event."
The FIBA and WINS (Women in News and Sport) collaboration on this project reflects the emphasis FIBA places on increasing increasing female participation in basketball. This initiative is part of FIBA's broader mission to develop, grow, and promote basketball globally, with a particular focus on empowering women at all levels of the sport, and ties directly what is at the core of the WINS program, empowering women in sports media.
"What has been achieved through this program has been instrumental in not only boosting engagement for our National Federations in Oceania, but enhancing the visibility of women in basketball," FIBA Executive Director - Oceania, Amanda Jenkins said.
Belinda Delana's Journey: A Testament to the Program's Success
Delana is a shining example of the program's impact. Through the scholarship provided, Belinda had the opportunity to travel to Australia for the FIBA U15 Oceania Cups and contribute to the event through various media operations tasks.
"I contributed to a variety of media operations tasks from conducting post-match interviews, to liaising with photographers about venue requirements, and I feel like the FIBA and WINS program really prepared me to handle this and more," Delana said
Belinda's journey highlights the emotional and cultural significance of the competition, as well as the broader impact of the program.
"Building up to this opportunity, I was provided with a safe space that allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, and venture into something entirely new. I was able to network, learn, enjoy heaps of talent and showcase my own. It was an interesting experience for me as my studies (political science) and extracurricular interests differ greatly from the media."
Throughout the program Delana enjoyed the weekly workshop sessions which gave her additional insight into how she can contribute to basketball development within her National Federation, Basketball Fiji, through engaging social media content.
"I really enjoyed creating content and learning about the different tricks and tools to use to fully engage viewers and learn of their expectations and content preferences."
Building Pathways for Women to Contribute
Programs like this are crucial in providing young women with the tools and confidence to engage with basketball in new and meaningful ways, both on and off the court.
"This program gave me confidence, knowledge, and the tools to engage and interact with athletes and officials at the FIBA U15 Oceania Cups. The practical elements of the workshops provided me with tips on conducting interviews that were not solely 'box fit' questions, but rather allowed me to ask questions that would produce quality content. Being able to interview people I was able to learn about their life experiences, uncover their passion for basketball and got to meet the upcoming youth basketball starts of the Pacific."
The Women in Sports (WINS) program includes mentoring participants through sports coverage and seeks to promote women in sport from elite to community levels and amplify women’s voices in sports coverage, inspiring women across the Pacific, and Asia to get involved in sports media.
WINS is coordinated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's International Development Unit (ABCID) and is supported by the Australian Government through the Team Up program and builds on two previous phases since WINS began in 2016.
FIBA