OCEANIA – Earlier this week many National Basketball Federations throughout the region celebrated Olympic Day. June 23^rd is a significant day in the Olympic calendar – National Olympic Committee’s (NOC’s) from around the world come together to celebrate the Olympic Movement.

FIBA’s Oceania office has been working with its National Basketball Federations during 2016 to encourage each Federation to take part in the day’s activities. FIBA set the ambitious target of having 2,016 shots taken during Olympic Day to celebrate the occasion together as a region.

Federations were also encouraged to invite current and former Olympians from all sports to get involved in the festivities. Olympians from all countries were invited to help the region reach their goal of 2,016 shots. 

FIBA Executive Director for Oceania David Crocker commented on the significance of Olympic Day.

“FIBA takes great pride in the Olympic movement, and our office considers the local NOC’s to be one of our strongest collaborators in terms of developing basketball in the region”

“We are pleased to see so many of our Federations taking part in activities organised in conjunction with the NOC’s, and in particular to see so many well-known former and current Olympic athletes taking part in basketball activities to mark this special occasion.”

One such Olympian to take part in the basketball activities was President of the Nauru Olympic Committee, 3-time Olympic representative and seven-time Commonwealth Gold Medalist, Mr. Marcus Stephen.

Marcus Stephen doing his part to help the region reach 2,016 shots

Stephen helped ‘tip-off’ the Nauru Basketball Federation’s Olympic Day 3x3 tournament. With the recent boost in popularity of 3x3 basketball across Oceania, it was only fitting that 3x3 tournaments were also held in Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia and Samoa to celebrate the occasion.

Federated Stats of Micronesia's Olympic Day 3x3 tournament participants

“With it being 2016 and the Rio Olympics only a few short weeks away, we felt that having a target of 2,016 basketball shots across the region was the perfect way to celebrate the movement” Crocker explained. “We are proud to announce that this target was well and truly reached. This was in no small part helped by the Guam Basketball federation.”

Guam Basketball hosted a ‘shoot out’ between the U18 girls and the U17 boys national teams to see who could make the most shots in the quickest time. By the time the teams were done they had made a total of 2,000 baskets.

Guam U17 boys national team getting ready for the Olympic Day 'shoot out'

The shootout followed a series of friendly games against visiting Japanese exchange students. 

The Guam U18 Girls team relished the experience.

“It gives our team an opportunity to play against people that don’t practice with us and players who don’t know what we are doing.”

Meanwhile in American Samoa and Papua New Guinea, each Federation took part in their respective NOC’s sports clinics. Both National Federations provided expert coaches to help run the clinics. 

Kila Kila primary school students enjoying Papua New Guinea's Olympic Day celebrations

Basketball Papua New Guinea Executive Officer, Joel Khalu was proud to be able to contribute to an amazing day of sports activities.

“Olympic Day is something that we take a lot of pride in celebrating. It’s fantastic for our Federation to be able to work in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee to deliver activities, in conjunction with a range of other sports. The demonstration clinics held at the Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre were a great way for sports to promote themselves and all of the kids who participated really seemed to enjoy themselves.”

Pacific Games Power Lifting Gold Medalist, Linda Pulsan joining BFPNG in the days celebrations

Celebrations will continue over the coming days, with more events taking place in Marshall Islands, Fiji, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Palau.

FIBA