May 25, 2012
Euroleague For Life promotes "Basketball for Everyone" at Turkish Airlines Final Four Barcelona 2011
Special Olympics Athletes to take Centre Court to Promote Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Euroleague For Life / Special OlympicsFor the second consecutive season, Euroleague Basketball is using the biggest stage of European professional basketball, the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four Barcelona 2011, to promote the Special Olympics movement and the rights of people with intellectual disabilities to be accepted, respected and included in the game of basketball. Under the message of ‘Basketball for Everyone’, 24 Special Olympics basketball players will share center court at Palau Sant Jordi Hall with the four top basketball teams in Europe, Panathinaikos (Greece), Montepaschi (Italy), Maccabi Electra (Israel) and Real Madrid (Spain), who, from Friday, May 6 to Sunday, May 8 will battle for the title of 2010-11 Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion.

On Saturday May 7, four Special Olympics basketball teams from Spain, Turkey, Greece and Italy will become featured participants in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four weekend by demonstrating their skills at Palau Sant Jordi Hall. The Special Olympics athletes will be recognized alongside seven of Europe’s elite junior teams playing in the Nike International Junior Tournament, as well as, for the first time ever, a representative from outside Europe, Team China. Euroleague’s support of Special Olympics is part of its social responsibility programme, Euroleague for Life. To promote the Special Olympics Final Four, Euroleague for Life is also organizing a promotional activity during Sant Jordi’s Day, April 23, a very popular and traditional Catalan celebration, in which some Special Olympics athletes and Euroleague representatives will be selling roses to invite the people to attend the Special Olympics Final Four.

According to Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball CEO: "We are delighted to once again promote such a worthy movement as Special Olympics during the 2010-11 season and to use the popularity and visibility of our teams, players and league to support basketball players with intellectual disabilities. We believe everyone, regardless of their ability or disability, should have the right to participate and enjoy the great game of basketball."

Euroleague Basketball has also invited Special Olympics players as special guests to watch live in the stadium the matches of Macabi Tel Aviv, Panathinaikos, Montepaschi Siena and Real Madrid on May 6 and 8. Furthermore, the Special Olympics movement will be promoted to millions of basketball fans across Barcelona and the entire world, through outdoor promotions, LED court advertising, television broadcasts and online coverage.

From November to December 2010, 24 Euroleague games were dedicated to Special Olympics with Euroleague players and coaches donning red Special Olympics emblazoned shoe laces to promote respect, acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. The vibrant Special Olympics laces will also be on sale at Palau Sant Jordi Hall during the Special Olympics Final Four Barcelona 2011 championship. For more information visit www.wearthelaces.org

“Thanks to Euroleague Basketball´s generous and unfailing support we are currently experiencing a growing momentum for basketball in our movement,” said Mary Davis, Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia. "Through their enthusiasm, Euroleague have shown that they are committed to promoting basketball for everyone while breaking down stereotypes about intellectual disabilities in the process."

Basketball is the third most popular sport within the Special Olympics movement with currently more than 53,000 basketball players in the Europe/Eurasia. Special Olympics European Basketball Week (EBW) is celebrated each year in association with FIBA Europe and Euroleague Basketball. EBW is growing momentum, providing an opportunity for everyone in the basketball community to commit to doing something to expand opportunities for players with intellectual disabilities.

More information is available at www.euroleague.net or www.specialolympics-eu.org, Facebook / Twitter.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Euroleague.net
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