UNICEF Trophy 2024-2025

ATHENS, January 8, 2025 – The UNICEF Trophy 2024-2025 concluded on 28 December with the crowning of this year’s winners, N.E. Megaridos, at the Municipal Sports Centre of Glyfada. This tournament, organized for a third consecutive year in collaboration with the Hellenic Basketball Federation (HBF), brought communities together to amplify a vital message: every child has the right to grow up free from violence.

As part of an ongoing partnership between UNICEF and the HBF, this year’s tournament served as a platform to raise awareness about the urgent need to combat violence against children and to promote the rights of every child to safety, dignity, and opportunity in all aspects of society.

Hellenic Basketball Federation President Vangelis Liolios reflected on the partnership’s impact:

“We are deeply committed to this cause and proud to stand alongside UNICEF in the fight to end violence against children. This tournament serves as a powerful reminder that sports can unite us for a greater cause, fostering a safe and supportive environment for our youth. Through initiatives like the UNICEF Trophy, we are empowering our players to become ambassadors of change, advocating for peace and respect both on and off the court.”

Despite the growing global awareness of violence against children, data and evidence on this issue in Greece remain limited, creating challenges for effective prevention, response, and service delivery. Existing information highlights significant gaps in protecting children from harm, from timely intervention to the provision of essential services for affected children and families.

UNICEF, in collaboration with its partners, is working closely with the Greek state to address these gaps. By supporting the development of robust data systems, strengthening policies, and enhancing the capacity of service providers, UNICEF aims to ensure that every child in Greece is safeguarded and empowered to reach their full potential.

UNICEF Representative in Greece, Ghassan Khalil, highlighted the importance of this initiative:

“Every child deserves to grow, play, and thrive without the threat of violence. At its core, the UNICEF Trophy is about advocating for children’s rights and fostering environments where every child feels safe and valued. In every aspect of our partnership with the Hellenic Basketball Federation, we are creating spaces for dialogue, empowerment, and change. Congratulations to this year’s UNICEF Trophy Winner “N.E. Megaridos” and we look forward to continuing our work with the children and youth basketball academies across the country, ensuring that child rights and children’s voices are at the heart of our work.”

This year’s tournament theme – ending violence against children – was brought to life through direct engagement with young people in local basketball academies. In the lead-up to the event, UNICEF and HBF launched a series of visits to the youth basketball academies participating at the tournament to discuss the impacts of violence and the importance of safe, inclusive environments in sports and beyond. Early next year, both organizations will continue their engagement with local communities, visiting the home courts of participating teams to deepen their connection with young athletes and their families. Through these ongoing efforts, we aim to sustain the momentum of advocacy and ensure that children’s rights remain a priority.

UNICEF and HBF express their heartfelt gratitude to the teams, players, and supporters who contributed to this year’s tournament. Together, we are building a brighter future for every child, where violence has no place.