3x3 Basket Art Project sails from Portugal to Cape Verde

SAO VICENTE (Cape Verde) - Launched in 2018 by the Portuguese Basketball Federation to promote a healthy lifestyle among the inhabitants of all its municipalities, the ‘3x3 Basket Art’ project has now crossed the Atlantic and reached Cape Verde.

Two colorful basketball courts in Sao Vicente, co-financed by FIBA Foundation, have breathed new life into the island nation.

Sofia Ramalho Gomes, a former Portuguese women’s international basketball player, was key in making this project a reality.

“My husband, Beto Gomes, is originally from Cape Verde and every summer we go there,” Gomes tells FIBA Foundation.

One of the main problems in Cape Verde is that they don’t have infrastructure to play basketball. For example, Sao Vicente, they just have one gym for 7-8 teams. So that is why we asked the Portuguese federation to take their project to Cape Verde.

 “Regarding the location of the courts, Beto and I talked to some coaches to know where kids needed them the most. Then, we went to the Sao Vicente President and suggested these locations and they helped us. In total, it took us 10 days to do both courts.”

A second court was constructed earlier in the Chã de Alecrim neighborhood, north of Mindelo, which FIBA Foundation had reported on, back in March 2022.

With the help of a Cape Verdean artist and following the guidelines set by the Portuguese Federation, Gomes involved the local community in the painting process.

“Usually, people tend to go to the facilities to practice sport and don’t really care about the place. When you participate in the project, it’s different and we can see it. Now they care about the courts.”

Parents are grateful that their children have a healthy and safe outlet for their energy.

The two refurbished courts were inaugurated towards the end of July, by organizing tournaments for seniors as well as kids.

The enormous interest generated by these events – which also included different contests –forced the organizers to stick to the 3x3 format, to ensure all teams couldcompete. Gomes, her husband and some friends even played a couple of exhibition games to introduce the participants to high level basketball. 

 Molten basketballs donated by the FIBA Foundation were given to local kids, which Gomes gratefully acknowledges. “You know, when you are there and you see the faces of the kids when they received the balls and they say ‘oh this is for me’. It released me from all the stress I had.”

Beyond the 3x3 Basket Art Project, Gomes, who is a TIME-OUT 2.0 graduate, along with her husband and his family, is also spearheading the AMINGA Youth Sports Development Program. The goal is to give kids in Cape Verde the same opportunities that Gomes and her family had, through providing access to sport and education.

The success of the 3x3 Basket Art Project in Cape Verde is an outcome of the collaboration between multiple stakeholders – from the vision of the Portuguese Basketball Federation, the support of the FIBA Foundation and the all-important last mile activation by grassroots leaders like Gomes, who overcome numerous challenges.

“I was thinking we are going to have problems but in the end it was great seeing all these people playing basketball and even changing lives, as one kid is coming to Portugal thanks to better opportunities we offered him. That’s what we work for.”

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The FIBA Foundation is the social and legacy arm of FIBA that addresses the role of sports and particularly basketball in society, preserving and promoting basketball’s values and its cultural heritage.

The FIBA Foundation believes that basketball has the power to empower, educate and inspire youth and facilitates this by implementing Basketball For Good projects around the world.

FIBA