The 2nd Edition of United Nations (UN) World Basketball Day was observed annually on 21 December 2024 across the globe to celebrate the global significance of basketball recognized by the UN, acknowledging basketball’s role in promoting gender equality, empowering women and girls, and fostering human rights.
- The day also emphasizes the importance of sports, including those for persons with disabilities, in contributing to global development goals.
- In 2023, delegates gathered at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA’s) House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland to mark the 1st ever occasion.
- The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia and Germany won the title.It will be help every four years.
History and Background:
i.Origin of the Sport: On December 21 1891, Dr. James Naismith (a Canadian physical education instructor) invented basketball at the International Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, the United States of America (USA) to keep students active during winter.
- The term “basketball” was coined by Dr. James Naismith in 1891.
ii.First World Basketball Day: On 25 August 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/77/324 proclaiming 21 December as World Basketball Day ,following the introduction of a draft resolution by Antonio Lagdameo, the Philippine Ambassador to the UN.
Significance:
First Team Sport to Be Recognized: Basketball became the 1st-ever team sport to receive an official UN-recognized international day, reflecting its universal popularity and capacity to bring people together.
About Basketball’s Global Reach:
- The National Basketball League (NBL) in the United States,founded in1936 was the 1st professional league.
- Federation Internationale de Basketball (International Basketball Federation) and it is the governing body for basketball worldwide.
- Olympics Legacy: Basketball has been part of the Olympic program since the 1936 Berlin Olympics, with women’s basketball debuting in 1976.
Global Development:
i.Harlem Globetrotters’ Role: An iconic American exhibition basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, has contributed to the sport’s global influence.
ii.Women’s Participation:Women’s basketball has grown significantly since its inception, with women 1st playing the sport less than a year in 1892 after it was created.
- Women’s basketball made its Olympic debut as a regular event at the 1976 Montreal Games.
iii.Professional Leagues:The Basketball Africa League (BAL) established in 2019, features 12 club teams from across Africa, showcasing the sport’s expansion into new regions.
iv.Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), established in 1975 is Asia’s first and oldest professional basketball league.
V.Canada’s National Basketball Association (NBA), established in 1946, is one of the most prominent professional basketball leagues.
