Sport
3 December, 2022
Basketball Australia announces scholarship partnership
THIS week, Basketball Australia and Foot Locker announced a partnership with the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund (SESF) for three years from 2023.
Together they will work to provide 10 scholarships per year to emerging basketball players from low socioeconomic backgrounds throughout the country.
Basketball Australia joins a roster of national sporting organisations to partner with the SESF as they close out their inaugural year as a national charity. The foundation aims to alleviate the financial burden on emerging athletes and their families, allowing athletes to continue on their professional pathways.
As the national governing body of basketball in the country, Basketball Australia oversees the Australian national teams, the Centre of Excellence, WNBL and the Australian Junior Championships (AJC).
Foot Locker APAC’s Senior Director of Marketing and former AJC participant, Brendan Graham, said the partnership was crucial in supporting athletes.
“This is a very important component of our multi-year partnership with Basketball Australia and the Australian Junior Championship tournaments,” Mr Graham said.
“Basketball is a universal game, and SESF provides the assessment and governance processes necessary to ensure funding from Basketball Australia and Foot Locker best support members of our basketball community.”
This partnership solidifies the SESF’s commitment to supporting emerging basketball players from all over Australia, a sport known for regular travel to events. Basketball Australia’s Executive General Manager of Competitions, Participation & Education Paul Maley said they were proud of the partnership and what it would mean to the sport.
“Basketball Australia is proud to become a partner of the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund for the next three years,” Mr Maley said.
“The cost of participating in multiple events per year across the country can add up, and this important partnership can contribute to equitable access for disadvantaged basketball players.
“We look forward to working with SESF and Foot Locker to provide more opportunities and pathways for emerging talent.”
“We are pleased to partner with Basketball Australia and Foot Locker for the next three years. Basketball is an incredibly popular sport nationwide with the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and the Boomers building the sport’s profile,” SESF Executive Director Nick Mooney said.
“This partnership will support the next generation of emerging athletes pursuing their basketball pathway.”
Applications can be made at sesf.org.au/application from January 16.
