MAHÉ (Seychelles) – On the momentous occasion of the third Basketball For Good Festival in Seychelles, the first-ever Basketball For Good court has been inaugurated by the FIBA Foundation.
Following the successful completion of year three of its flagship Hoops 4 Health Program, the FIBA Foundation decided to leave a lasting legacy by revamping a court in Roche Caiman, a key district within Seychelles’ largest island of Mahé.
The inauguration ceremony was held on November 9, the second day of the Basketball For Good Festival, which marks the culmination of each year’s Hoops 4 Health Program.
Initially introduced to combat the high incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases in Pacific Island countries, ‘Hoops 4 Health’ innovatively uses basketball as an educational tool to increase awareness among youth.
Hoops 4 Health has since expanded to the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles, with the support of the local branch of Bahrain’s Al Salam Bank.
Reflecting Seychellois culture
The court refurbishment was carried out by Play with Purpose, an organization dedicated to revitalizing basketball courts to build community. The project was led by Play in Purpose partner, Shelton Hawkins, and creative strategist-project manager Dahlia Miranda Monteiro, alongside court refurbishing experts and artists Edwin Fregoso, Lenine Dos Santos Gonçalves, and Alex Rey.
The court evocatively reflects Seychellois culture, while also incorporating health and well-being elements, designed in collaboration with local artists.
On the other hand, the two initial backstops were replaced by new units generously donated by FIBA Foundation partners, Mondo.
The renovation was completed from October 31 to November 8, followed by the inauguration ceremony comprising Mini Basketball, fun, and educational activities in a friendship-fostering atmosphere.
FIBA Foundation President - Hamane Niang, Deputy CEO of Al Salam Bank Bahrain - Anwar Mohammed Murad, Basketball For Good Advisory Committee Chairman - H.H. Shaikh Isa Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and over 120 local students were in attendance to celebrate this particular moment.
FIBA Foundation President Hamane Niang reflected on the court's impact on the local community: “With this project, we hope to encourage local youths to come to the court more often to play basketball so they can stay healthy.”
In the near future, the FIBA Foundation aims to repeat such projects in other regions of the world, thereby enhancing long-term basketball participation across the world and promoting the Basketball For Good movement.
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The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports 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