SustainaBALL program will continue to make a difference at U16 Asian Championship 2023

DOHA (Qatar) - Players, fans and staff will be once again making a difference at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship through the implementation of SustainaBALL, the sustainability program with the purpose of educating and raising awareness towards the crucial environmental issues, through various practices that mitigate climate change.

This program to be implemented by FIBA Regional Office - Asia combines both our love for basketball and our commitment to a more sustainable future.

Basketball has the potential to play a pivotal role in both mitigating its environmental footprint and enlightening fans and stakeholders about the vital importance and advantages of embracing sustainable objectives. The Regional Office places significant emphasis on the value of sustainable practices throughout its business operations.

For the duration of the competition in Doha, multiple practical activities will be held to ensure the implementation of the SustainaBALL program.

The local organizing committee (LOC) is partnering with a recycling company located in Doha to actively reduce waste during the tournament. All waste produced before and during the event will be sorted and recycled. This sustainable approach not only minimizes the impact on the environment but also contributes to a reduction in the event's carbon emissions.

In order to make the recycling efforts even more effective, there will be an attempt to not only recycle the plastic bottles themselves but also, through circular recycling, to reuse the leftover water that is usually thrown away. The water from those used bottles will be emptied into a big tank and after a specific period of time, it will be used for irrigation, agricultural, and other related purposes in the area.

Participating teams will be key to the program so during the official Team Managers meeting, a brief introduction of the SustainaBALL project was made, and Team Managers received a short description of the initiatives where the active participation of players will be required.

As athletes are to play a big role in the SustainaBALL program, they went through a brief onboarding from Regional Office representatives. In this session, the athletes had the opportunity to get educated on SustainaBALL’s core values while also having the opportunity to hear about crucial sustainability issues and get familiarized with the importance of this project on both a sports and social level. Moreover, through interactive and engaging online activities, young athletes will be introduced to the crucial issue of Sustainability through some everyday examples, and familiarise themselves with some major Sustainability practices related to the sport of Basketball. During their sustainability orientation, players were given their SustainaBALL hats and green shoelaces (playing the role of a sustainability pledge), along with a USB stick with useful information on the initiative, and other supportive material of the project.

The players themselves were also able to take part in helping to promote the cause, taking photos with SustainaBALL material and props during the content day photoshoot. This content will be eventually sent to all National Member Federations, along with specific directions and suggestions for further engagement in each NF’s social media channels.

SustainaBALL looks to get the fans engaged since raising awareness on sustainability is one of SustainaBALL’s main purposes. During selected games, fans will have the opportunity to receive some giveaway SustainaBALL gifts.

The efforts of the teams for their commitment to the program and to the environment will not go unnoticed. During the event, every participating team will have the chance to demonstrate their dedication and involvement in the SustainaBALL initiative. The Top SustainaBALL Performer award will be presented to the five most engaged teams, highlighting their commitment to active participation, learning, and contribution to a more environmentally conscious ecosystem. These awards are crafted from recycled materials derived from seagrass leaf residue, which is abundantly washed ashore each year along Mediterranean coastal areas. They are created using certified bio-based thermosetting resins. The awards will be presented to team delegates on the morning of the tournament's final day.

One of the highlight activities of the program is the tree plantation. On the second and third day the tournament (always taking under consideration the current weather conditions), representatives from the FIBA Regional Office - Asia and the Basketball Federation of Qatar, along with team representatives, will engage in a tree planting activity in the Al Gharafa Park.

Even on the backend of the competition, the SustainaBALL program aims to have an impact. Coach staffs of teams will be using tablets for all in-game statistics instead of printed stat sheets. Likewise, the in-game Public Announcer will also use a tablet instead of a printed list for announcing team delegation rosters.

These initiatives underscore the Regional Office's dedication to educating and promoting awareness about critical sustainability matters. These efforts encompass a range of practices designed to combat climate change. Simultaneously, National Member Federations participating in these initiatives have the chance to acquaint themselves with the concept of sustainability and take initial steps toward adopting a more environmentally friendly approach to basketball operations in the region.

FIBA