FIBA approves Equip's basketball smart locker, helping to make sports equipment accessible

MIES (Switzerland) - FIBA's Equipment & Venue Centre is pleased to have on board Equip, providers of a game-changing basketball smart locker with the goal of having more people participate in physical activity. With its smart locker launched in April in Cascais, Portugal, in collaboration with the Portuguese Basketball Federation (FPB) and its 3x3 BasketArt project, Equip is now excited about extending its footprint further across more youth communities.

The Switzerland-based company has created autonomous stations that can be installed at public sports courts and grounds that provide equipment to users enabling them to partake in various sports and leisure activities around the world - including basketball. With sports locations and venues being developed to incorporate sports and leisure activities, Equip believes that the best way to practice sports is through equipment sharing - without constraints and without ownership.

"Our smart lockers are providing increased access to sport so that people no longer need to bring their own equipment to the court. We are glad that FIBA and Equip have a shared vision," said Henry Nidecker, CEO at Equip.

"We believe our partnership with FIBA  will help connect us to public and private stakeholders interested in using sport to engage the community and their facility users. Our recent collaboration with FPB and the community in Portugal is a prime example. We are very proud that our FIBA Approved smart locker has now been implemented at an iconic outdoor basketball court in honor of Portuguese basketball legend Mery Andrade," Nidecker said.

The stations function via the Equip app, which users can download to their phones and gain access to the equipment in the locker. After registering, users select a nearby station location and select the desired sports equipment as well as the date and time they would like to use it. In addition to basketball, Equip stations are outfitted with equipment for stand-up paddle boarding, surfing, volleyball, and football, among others.

Bart Prinssen, Head of FIBA's Equipment & Venue Centre, said: "FIBA welcomes Equip as part of our global movement of growing basketball through innovation and enlarging the FIBA Family, a current strategic objective. With clever and innovative solutions like Equip's smart locker, we are sure more people around the world will enjoy playing basketball with approved and well-maintained equipment on location."

FIBA has an Equip station at its headquarters, the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, in Mies, Switzerland.

 FIBA