Press Centre 2008/09/19 (1): General Information

Uniting Force of Basketball

Memo in new link with UNICEF

The NBA and UNICEF have been partners since 2001 as part of NBA Cares, the basketball league's social responsibility initiative. The UNICEF/NBA relationship leverages the power of basketball and the NBA’s social responsibility efforts to support UNICEF’s lifesaving programs. With participation from the league, teams, and players, activities around the world have generated funds for UNICEF and raised awareness for UNICEF initiatives such as the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign.

One of the highlights of the UNICEF-NBA partnership is the organisation of Basketball without Borders training camps. At these camps, UNICEF staff and NBA players aim to provide children and young people worldwide with positive messages that will help them to protect themselves and with communication skills that will affect their daily lives.

Such camps have been held in China, Brazil, South Africa, France and India. Earlier in 2008, this partnership came to Turkey – and with it came a new cooperation agreement between the Turkish National Committee for UNICEF and both Turkey’s and NBA’s well-known player, Mehmet Okur Memo.

Most recently, at a camp in Istanbul in June NBA star Memo coached youth from Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent States not only in basketball but in their personal life as well.

For Memo, the camp marked only the beginning of his cooperation with the National Committee. From now on, he will be working closely with UNICEF to ensure than children are able to take up their rights.

The world–famous sportsman believes that children should experience the benefits of the best start to life, education, protection and participation. Moreover, he believes that these should be rights for all children rather than opportunities for just some of them. I am in for children, he pledged, promising to help make the voice of millions of children heard.

Memo has also called on the people of Turkey to support children and UNICEF. Shootings of TV spots featuring the basketball star were completed this summer in the Ayhan Şahenk Gymnasium.

The cooperation between Memo and UNICEF is expected to develop and take new forms in parallel with the work of the National Committee and the emerging needs of children. A life-long friend and supporter of children, Memo will be demonstrating his commitment, both as a father and as a child rights volunteer, on many future occasions.

There to thank Memo – as he is best known to his fans – for his contribution was Alanor Olalı, the Executive Director of the Turkish National Committee for UNICEF.

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