MIES (Switzerland) – The Harlem Globetrotters were presented with the FIBA Order of Merit at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Switzerland, as FIBA paid tribute to the organization's extraordinary contribution to the global growth and promotion of basketball throughout its 100-year history.
The ceremony brought together distinguished guests from across the basketball and diplomatic communities. Among those in attendance were FIBA Honorary President and FIBA Foundation President Hamane Niang, Swiss Basketball President Andrea Siviero, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein Louis L. Bono.
Presented by FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis to Keith Dawkins, Harlem Globetrotters & Herschend Entertainment Studios President, the FIBA Order of Merit recognizes a legacy that extended far beyond entertainment. For a century, the Harlem Globetrotters inspired generations of players and fans while helping bring basketball to new audiences across the globe.
Founded in Chicago in 1926 by Abe Saperstein, the Harlem Globetrotters built a legacy that went far beyond the game itself. By creating opportunities and breaking barriers, the organization helped shape basketball's evolution, from Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton becoming the first African American player to sign an NBA contract to FIBA Women's World Cup gold medallist Lynette Woodard becoming the first woman to join the team in 1985.
The Harlem Globetrotters also played a unique role in spreading basketball internationally. Long before the arrival of global television coverage, they introduced the game to communities around the world through international tours that showcased not only remarkable skill but also the joy and values of basketball.
Over the decades, they performed before millions of spectators across more than 120 countries and territories, becoming some of the sport's most recognizable ambassadors.
"The Harlem Globetrotters are more than basketball. They are more than a tour, more than spinning balls, trick shots, or dunks. They have inspired the world to celebrate what it is to be human. 100 years and counting. I believe they are just getting started," expressed Keith Dawkins.
By awarding the FIBA Order of Merit, FIBA recognized not only a celebrated team, but a century-long commitment to using basketball as a force for connection, inspiration, and positive change, embodying the values that underpin FIBA's vision of building the most popular sports community in the world.
"For a century, the Harlem Globetrotters have done more than entertain. They have inspired dreams, broken barriers, transcended borders, and helped grow our game worldwide. Their impact extends far beyond the court, making them truly deserving recipients of the FIBA Order of Merit,” said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
In a symbolic moment of gratitude, the Harlem Globetrotters presented a gift to FIBA Honorary President Hamane Niang during halftime of their show in Lausanne, Switzerland, thanking FIBA for the Order of Merit.
FIBA