NBA and FIBA to bring first Basketball Without Borders camp to Colombia
The NBA, FIBA and the Colombian Basketball Association on Monday announced that 10th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas will be held Monday, June 24-Thursday, June 27 in Medellin
NEW YORK (USA)/MIES (Switzerland)/MEDELLIN (Colombia) - The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Colombian Basketball Association (Federación Colombiana de Baloncesto) on Monday announced that the 10th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas will be held Monday, June 24-Thursday, June 27 at Ivan de Bedout Coliseo in Medellin, Colombia, marking the first time that the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in Colombia.
BWB Americas 2019 will bring together more than 60 of the top high-school age boys and girls from North and South America to learn directly from NBA and FIBA players and coaches, and to compete against the best young players from the region.
BWB Americas 2019 campers and coaches will be announced prior to the camp.
NIKE, a global partner of BWB since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with NIKE apparel and footwear.
Among the 108 international players on opening-night NBA rosters for the 2018-19 season were a record 27 former BWB campers, including Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), Kelly Olynyk (Miami Heat; Canada; BWB Americas 2009), and Bruno Caboclo (Memphis Grizzlies; Brazil; BWB Americas 2013).
Follow BWB Americas 2019 using the hashtag #BWBAmericas on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Executive Quotes
NBA Managing Director Latin America, Arnon de Mello: "Bringing Basketball Without Borders to new locations is part of our continued commitment to growing the game of basketball around the world. In partnership with FIBA and the Colombian Basketball Federation, we’re excited to host North and South America’s top male and female prospects in Colombia and give back to the local community."
FIBA National Federations & Sport Director, Zoran Radovic: "We're excited to team up with the NBA in bringing Basketball Without Borders to Colombia. The country hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 1982 and nowadays is one of our targeted territories where we are making a concerted effort of developing and growing the game of basketball. Hosting this edition of BWB Americas will go a long way towards helping Colombian basketball take the necessary steps in making a return to the world stage."
Colombian Basketball Federation President, Jorge Armando Garcia: "Colombia welcomes the NBA and the future of basketball in the Americas. We are thrilled to host this grand event that will spotlight basketball in Colombia."
Mayor of Medellin, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga: "Medellin continues to be internationally-recognized as an epicenter of important world-class events. We are proud to be hosting the NBA and FIBA's Basketball Without Borders camp, and we look forward to welcoming current and former NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches as well as the region’s top prospects. This camp will build on Medellin's proud history of bringing young people together through sport and helping them achieve their dreams."
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About Basketball Without Borders (BWB)
BWB, the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach program, has reached more than 3,400 participants from 129 countries and territories since 2001, with more than 54 former campers drafted into the NBA and six signed as free agents. The NBA and FIBA have staged 57 Basketball Without Borders (BWB) camps in 36 cities in 28 countries on six continents. More than 290 different current and former NBA/WNBA players have joined more than 230 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams to support BWB across the world.
Click here to find out more.
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About FIBA
FIBA (fiba.basketball) - the world governing body for basketball - is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
For further information about FIBA visit fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on facebook.com/fiba, twitter.com/fiba, instagram.com/fiba and youtube.com/fiba.