The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today the formation of the Jr. NBA Asia Advisory Council as part of the league’s expanded efforts to encourage basketball participation and active lifestyles among children. The council, which includes Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, will provide direction on Jr. NBA’s development and accelerate the program’s growth with the goal of reaching more boys and girls across the region to help address and combat inactivity among youth.
“The Jr. NBA program involves boys and girls, parents, educators and policy makers throughout Southeast Asia, emphasizing the importance of leading active lives, making healthy choices and sharing the positive values of sport,” said Levy. “Our commitment to the continued expansion of Jr. NBA has led to the formation of the Jr. NBA Asia Advisory Council to steer and grow the program. The council members’ passion for giving back to their local communities sets them apart as the perfect group to help us bring the life changing experience of the Jr. NBA to millions of people across the region.”
“The goal of Jr. NBA is to inspire young boys and girls and develop them into healthy and well-rounded human beings,” said Mutombo. “As a lifelong advocate of sport and a believer in its ability to positively affect change, I’m excited to join the Jr. NBA Asia Advisory Council to work with some of the most prominent business leaders in Asia to help move the Jr. NBA program forward.”
Jr. NBA is currently being conducted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, reaching more than 1.4 million kids, parents and coaches. Jr. NBA is presented by Royal FrieslandCampina in Southeast Asia through its Alaska Milk, Dutch Lady, Foremost and Frisian Flag brands. Additional partners of Jr. NBA in Southeast Asia include Tahir Foundation, Spalding, Globe Telecom, CloudFone and Gatorade.
Jr. NBA is the league’s global youth basketball participation program, which has been conducted across Southeast Asia for the past two years. The program is free across its four stages: open clinics for kids ages 5-14; competitive selection camps where top boys and girls ages 10-14 are identified to participate in the National Training Camp (NTC); the NTC where the top 15 boys and girls are selected as Jr. NBA All-Stars based on the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, attitude and respect; and the NBA experience where Jr. NBA All-Stars from all five countries embark on a unique, overseas trip to watch an NBA game, receive basketball training, tour the local city and play exhibition games. The program also includes a “train the trainer” initiative designed to develop the skills of coaches and physical education teachers who return to their communities to share their knowledge with local kids. The 2016 Southeast Asia Jr. NBA schedule tipped off in the Philippines on Jan. 23 and culminates in Indonesia on Aug. 28. Details of the 2016 NBA experience trip will be announced at a later date.
Registration for the 2016 Southeast Asia Jr. NBA will begin soon at www.jrnba.asia. Follow the Jr. NBA on Facebook to learn more about the program. For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com and “Friend” the NBA’s official account on LINE by adding @nba_global.
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