FIBA wins 12th Creative Sports Award
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is among the winners of the 12th edition of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award. In the category of International Organisation Award, ASOIF member federations were invited to present impactful projects that have contributed to the empowerment of societies through sports under the theme of “sports as a universal language and a soft power capable of shaping the future”.
FIBA was recognised for its innovative Youth Leadership Project, led by the FIBA Foundation, which is aimed at equipping young people with the necessary tools to use basketball for creating a positive impact within their communities. This year, the Foundation linked the initiative to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and created a Mascot Education Program, promoting education about recycling and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 within the three Host Countries of Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, thereby adding to the social legacy of the event.
JIP, the mascot of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, has been designed to encourage fans to consider the environment and educate young generations about recycling through its built-in back hoop while its power shoes are run on energy converted from recycled waste. In addition, the Mascot Education Playbook has been created as an innovative learning resource for fun, play-based education through basketball. To spread and implement the education programme in the host countries, 14 Youth Leaders from those countries attended a three-days workshop in Manila, Philippines, in April 2023, as well as regular virtual mentoring.
Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Secretary General, said on this occasion:
FIBA is honoured to be recognised with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award in the International Organisations category. We strongly believe that basketball can be a transformative force, shaping a better future for our youth and communities. Combining the FIBA Foundation’s Youth Leadership Program with the mascot of FIBA’s flagship men's event, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, we were able to provide an outstanding opportunity to promote inclusivity, diversity, and positive social change through our Basketball For Good initiatives.
Click here to learn more about the project.
Since 2013, Summer Olympic IFs have been invited to participate in the Creative Sports Award. It is designed to celebrate and encourage initiatives, projects and programmes that demonstrate outstanding creativity and contribute to the enrichment of sport.
Each year ASOIF members can submit one entry for the award, with each submission examined in relation to the award criteria by a group of referees appointed by the Award’s Board of Trustees. The winning IF is presented with an AED 1 million (approximately USD 272,000) prize for use in its development activities.