The most-anticipated Special Olympics European Basketball Week (EBW) is back for its 21st edition in 2024. Running 25 November – 3 December, this year’s campaign will revolve around our basketball activities in schools.
Over 25,000 people with and without intellectual disabilities are expected to play an active role during EBW, covering over 35 countries and 250 events.
Our basketball activities in schools are aimed at raising interest among the younger population and building a Unified generation. This means a generation where people with and without intellectual disabilities share a space and learn to cooperate in a meaningful way from the very start of their sporting careers.
Proof of the impact of basketball in schools is immediately evident when you chat to any member of the Lahmuse School basketball team in Estonia.
“Thanks to basketball I have found many friends, and it’s great to play with them. Doing sports is the most important thing in life.”
“I think that basketball gives a lot to our kids,” adds Kuuno Tiitus, coach of Mihkel’s team. “Thanks to the training, they feel they are part of a team now [and] basketball is the kind of sport where you can do a lot within the team.
“I encourage everybody to start playing basketball: it is a contact game, but it gives you more confidence, a sense of teamwork, and physical skills. I think that if you have played basketball, then you can do better in life.”
Special Olympics is not alone in its focus of bringing basketball to schools in 2024. This year our own goals perfectly align with those of our partners at FIBA Europe and FIBA Foundation, whose Hoops4Schools project goes hand in hand with Special Olympics’ aims. This alignment provided the perfect opportunity for us to share knowledge and combine resources to enhance our combined efforts in schools.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Special Olympics for European Basketball Week 2024. Basketball has a unique way of bringing people together, and it’s inspiring to see how the game is helping kids in schools connect, learn, and grow as a team.” said FIBA Executive Director Europe Kamil Novak.
“Programs like Hoops4Schools make basketball accessible, inclusive, and fun for everyone, and we’re proud to join forces with Special Olympics to amplify this impact.”
The partnership with FIBA plays a key role in spreading the reach of Special Olympics basketball in Europe and Eurasia. Through the interest generated among national federations and professional clubs, our movement boasts over 44,000 Special Olympics basketball players in the region and over 22,000 Unified players—making it the second most popular team sport in Europe.
“Special Olympics European Basketball Week is the cornerstone of our annual basketball activations,” commented Mirek Krogulec, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia Vice President for Sports. “Since its establishment over 20 years ago, we have brought people with intellectual disabilities to the courts of 46 countries across our region.
“This year, we are bringing the excitement of EBW into schools with friendly basketball and environmental sustainability sessions where youth with and without intellectual disability can learn to cooperate meaningfully from a young age, breaking down barriers before they’ve even formed.
“Thanks to the collaboration with FIBA Europe and FIBA Foundation, the national federations and professional clubs are more keen to share our positive message; we hope to build a Unified generation that will make inclusive basketball a more prominent reality in Europe and the world of sports.”
