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HOUSE OF BASKETBALL OPENS ITS DOORS FOR 2019 FIBA OPEN

The 5th edition of the International Basketball Association’s FIBA Open will, for the first time, be joined by a number of Special Olympics basketball teams from across Europe.

3×3 teams from Switzerland, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Lithuania and Bulgaria have been invited to participate in the event, which is being organised by the FIBA Foundation and the International Basketball Foundation (IBF). Each roster will be composed of three Special Olympics athletes, two unified partners and one coach, and each country will play games on both days.

The 2019 FIBA Open is set to take place at the House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland, on June 15th and 16th 2019 and will bring together basketball fans from around the world for a grassroots tournament.

The event takes place annually on the weekend of FIBA’s anniversary (18 June 1932) and is a unique experience not only on the court but also off it, where visitors can access FIBA’s head office, visit the exhibition space including the Hall of Fame and take part in a community -focused basketball programme.

Sam Perkins, NBA legend (LA Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Seattle Supersonics) and USA Olympic Gold medallist from Los Angeles 1984 will also be present, supporting the unified teams as a Special Olympics International Ambassador and signing autographs for fans.

“We are delighted to have a player of such calibre on site,” FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said. “His vision of using basketball for good is very much in line with our mission“.

Bruno Barth, Managing Director of Special Olympics Switzerland, added:

“Cooperation with national and international organisations is an important step for us in the application of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“On the one hand, we want to create sports opportunities adapted to people with mental disabilities in existing structures, on the other we would like to enable enriching encounters between people with and without disabilities during events such as the FIBA ​​Open“.

For more information please visit: https://www.fiba.basketball/house-of-basketball/fiba-open