MAJURO (Marshall Islands) – Kirsten Maddison, the newly appointed Secretary General of the Marshall Islands Basketball Federation (MIBF), is poised to elevate the sport to new heights.
At just 27 years old, Maddison assumed her role as Secretary General in July, drawing upon her recent experiences with the FIBA Youth Leaders Program to prepare for this opportunity.
“I am both grateful and excited to take on this role. My participation in last year's FIBA Youth Leadership Camp was invaluable; I learned how to integrate essential life values into our basketball initiatives. We explored incorporating health education into our clinics and highlighted the importance of creating a safe environment for children to learn the game,” Maddison said.
The camp introduced her to various FIBA initiatives, including the 'Her World, Her Rules' program, which she is eager to implement in the Marshall Islands. “The camp gave me the confidence I need to execute my responsibilities effectively,” she added.
FIBA Executive Director - Oceania, Amanda Jenkins expressed her enthusiasm for Maddison's appointment, promising resources to help the federation achieve its goals.
“We are excited and proud of Kirsten's appointment as Secretary General of MIBF. Her involvement in the FIBA Youth Leadership Cup further solidifies our commitment to this program. We congratulate the MIBF on its new board members and look forward to supporting their vision for advancing basketball in the RMI,” Jenkins stated.
Born and raised in Majuro, Maddison is dedicated to revitalizing basketball in her home country. “I want to rekindle the excitement that basketball once had. We plan to host more competitions beyond the annual Ralik-Ratak Basketball Tournament, including additional clinics and 3x3 tournaments to promote the sport,” she emphasized.
Maddison and her friends successfully organized a “Women in Sports” 3x3 tournament last year, and they aim to build on that momentum with even more events.
Having represented the Marshall Islands at the Micronesian Games three times, Maddison understands the importance of developing local talent and consistently participating in international competitions.
“I want to create pathways for our players to enhance their skills and compete at higher levels, especially for our female athletes. By participating in more international competitions, we can elevate our game and provide our players with the exposure they need,” she explained.
With her vision for competitions, clinics, and the promotion of 3x3 basketball in place, Maddison is focused on forging partnerships to support MIBF's objectives.
“As Secretary General, I aim to strengthen our collaborations with local sports entities, such as the Sports & Extracurricular Program (SEP) and the Majuro Atoll Local Government (MALGov) Sports Division. We must leverage these relationships to achieve our goals for basketball in the Marshall Islands,” she said.
“Basketball is the number one sport in our country, and MIBF has a significant responsibility to make strategic decisions to foster its growth and sustain its popularity. This is just the beginning; we will learn and adapt as we strive to fulfil our vision for basketball in the RMI,” Maddison concluded