Euroleague Basketball celebrates community commitment with One Team Week 0

Euroleague Basketball’s strong and ongoing commitment to working hand-in-hand with local communities will be highlighted in the coming days with a series of events to mark the annual One Team Week.

All 36 clubs competing in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup will be staging activities to celebrate the achievements of One Team, Euroleague Basketball’s social responsibility program, which has reached 12,000 participants since its launch in 2012.

As in previous years, the One Team Week events have been organised in conjunction with the project’s partner, Special Olympics, which is also celebrating its annual European Basketball Week.

Most visibly for fans all across Europe, every single player in this week’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games will replace his own name with the message “One Team” on the back of his game jersey, illustrating the desire of clubs and players to repay fans’ loyalty by taking an active role in their communities.

CSKA Moscow center and One Team Ambassador Kyle Hines, a long-time supporter of the program, said: “This week is a great opportunity for us players to contribute to the One Team movement, and we will all be wearing the One Team jersey to signify our determination to help reach one common goal – better relationships in communities across Europe.

“It’s a very important and significant week for us players, and hopefully we can continue to lead in a positive direction to further the One Team message.”

Roser Queraltó, Euroleague Basketball’s Chief Business Development Officer, added: “This One Team Week is very special for us, with all Euroleague Basketball clubs working together to support and celebrate the great work clubs do in their communities through our social program, One Team.

“We are also very happy to share this celebration for another year with our proud partner Special Olympics, by supporting their European Basketball Week.”

Another part of the week’s celebrations will see participants in One Team projects and Special Olympics athletes from across the continent invited to attend games, and head onto the court to stand side-by-side with players in the pre-game presentations.

All 16 home team clubs are also organising a variety of additional on-court presentations and activities before tip-off and during half-time, with the intention of showcasing the efforts undertaken by clubs in their communities – especially with those who are at-risk or disadvantaged.

Mr. David Evangelista, Regional President & Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia said:

“European Basketball Week is a major milestone on the annual Special Olympics calendar and something we as a movement get excited about every year. Its success very much rests on the fantastic support, vision and generosity shown by our long-standing partners Euroleague Basketball and the One Team Programme who once again are throwing their full weight behind this year’s activities. We are incredibly grateful to have the support of the One Team programme and the platform this offers to our athletes, and our movement, across Europe cannot be underestimated. Now in its 13th year, Basketball Week will seek this year to engage more than 19,000 athletes and Unified partners all over Europe. Thank you to Euroleague and One Team for sharing our passion to create a Unified world for all.”

ABOUT ONE TEAM

One Team, Euroleague Basketball’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, supported by Turkish Airlines as the One Team Founding Patron and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as Proud Partner, uses basketball to achieve real social impact in our communities. Since its founding in 2012, the One Team programme has reached already directly and indirectly 12,000 participants through its various team projects.

ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 30 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through sport athletes are given opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. More info http://www.specialolympics.org/