Basketball Victoria launched the NBL1 South First Nations round at State Parliament. Nadia and Wendy from the 3KND team attended the launch.
Sport and politics combine to highlight and celebrate the First Nations Round which will tip off 5-9 July, coinciding with NAIDOC week.
First Nations Round celebrate the significant impact that indigenous people have made to the sport of basketball.
The schedule is jam packed with 28 games being played across the state, it is an action-packed round of basketball to celebrate our First Peoples.
With over 435,000 participants annually, basketball continues to be the highest participation community sport in Victoria.
Basketball Victoria’s CEO Nick Honey was in attendance at the launch and is enjoying seeing basketball bringing together all facets of our community.
“As the leading community participation sport in Victoria, we as the custodians of the sport within our State have a responsibility to ensure that our sport is a home to all and a place where we celebrate the diversity that makes our sport great,” said Honey.
“Basketball is a sport for all people, with Victorians of all backgrounds coming together to play, it is truly the World game.”
The launch was attended by the Deputy Premier, Jacinta Allan, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Sport, Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence, along with other Members of Parliament. In attendance was also Members of the First Peoples Assembly, local First Nations NBL1 South players, club delegates and representatives Basketball Victoria.
The Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence is passionate about providing opportunities to support our communities through sport.
“Sport plays a vital role connecting people and bringing communities together, and we’re proud to support the First Nations Round of NBL1 as it celebrates this meaningful impact with more Victorians.” said Spence.
The event will highlight the combination of NBL1 South, the semi-professional league that provides explosive basketball throughout the season, from, which culminates in the National finals series in August, along with the celebration of our First Nations people through events during the round at the clubs and specially designed singlets for each NBL1 South club to wear only throughout the First Nations round.
Minister for First Peoples and Treaty Gabrielle Williams, wants the NBL1 South First Nations Round to continue to grow in popularity and be a highlight for local communities so they can come together to witness some amazing basketball.
"Sport is not only a great way to celebrate First Nations people but can also help us create social change. The First Nations Round will be a fantastic tribute to Aboriginal basketballers and Aboriginal culture, and I look forward to seeing it come to life.” Williams said.
The First Nations round is a highlight of the NBL1 South calendar as each club competes in their specially designed indigenous singlets which all represent the land and the communities of where each club resides. Each indigenous uniform tells a story of the local area, whether it is local wildlife or the history of the land, all of the singlet designs have a story to tell. It’s a great opportunity for the Victorian basketball community to celebrate the First nations culture and history.
First Nations round has held a special place in the NBL1 South calendar since 2019 and it continues to grow each year.
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