Basketball activity in Kiribati at all-time high
BETIO - The Kiribati Basketball Federation (KBF) is giving basketball a big boost around the country. With the help of the Hoops for Health (H4H) program, the island nation in the central Pacific Ocean is increasing its basketball activity and helping keep its people healthy and happy.
The H4H program is funded by the Australian Government as part of the Pacific Sports Partnerships (PSP) program. H4H supports grassroots basketball development and capacity building of national basketball federations, whilst contributing to identified social development outcomes. In Kiribati, the program seeks to use basketball as a means to educate participants on non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors and the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.
The KBF is extremely active in the community. It recently conducted an inclusive community sports day for International Women's Day (Tuesday 8th March), a referee and scorer's table training workshop and on 9th of April will run an Inter-Secondary School 3x3 Championship in support of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
FIBA's lead on Hoops for Health, Catherine Grawich, commented on the great work KBF were doing.
"It's fantastic to see them growing basketball participation numbers so successfully whilst also giving back to the communities in Tarawa. Basketball is becoming an all-inclusive and popular option for people of all genders, abilities and ages in Kiribati," she said.
KBF partnered with the Kiribati Table Tennis Association (KTTA) and the Kiribati Badminton Association (KBA) to run an inclusive event for International Women's Day. The aim of this event was to bring women and people with mental and physical disabilities together at the Sport Complex in Betio for a fun-filled day of sport. The community sports day sought to encourage women and people with disabilities to remain active and healthy by playing basketball, table tennis or badminton.
Participants during the Kiribati International Women's Day event
KBF are also investing in the capacity of their officials and volunteers. National Basketball Development Officer (NBDO) Iotia Paul - in conjunction with the H4H Coordinator Tekabara Arobati - ran a referee and score bench training workshop in February this year. The workshop was very successful with theoretical and practical sessions conducted for 20 participants.
We are very proud that we have the means to run informative sessions like this for the people of Kiribati. - Paul
KBF used this opportunity to train volunteers on how to use the new equipment purchased through the H4H program, which included basketballs, bibs, whistles and an electronic scoreboard.
KBF conducting a referee and score bench training workshop
On 9th of April, in support of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, KBF will be running an Inter-School 3x3 Tournament. H4H Coaches have been active in the Secondary Schools of Tarawa teaching basketball skills and the benefits of living healthy lifestyles. At this event, these schools will have the ability to enter teams and compete for the title of Inter-School 3x3 Champion. This competition will also serve as a recruitment tool for the team representing Kiribati at the U18 3x3 Oceania Championship being hosted in August on Surfers Paradise Beach, Australia.
The Kiribati Basketball Federation is doing an amazing job of increasing basketball activity in Kiribati while also positively impacting their community and its people.
FIBA
