The first Junior NBA League in Greece
The NBA announced the cooperation with Olympiakos and Panathinaikos basketball in creating the first Junior NBA league in Greece. This collaboration essentially combines two leagues based on schools and academies, the Jr. NBA Olympic Basket League and Jr. NBA Panathinaikos Basket League for boys and girls aged 10-12 years in 60 locations in Athens and Piraeus, starting in November.
The Regular season of the Olympiakos League will take place from March to June and the Panathinaikos league from November to April. Each school / academy will represent one of the 30 teams of the NBA and will take corresponding outfits with the respective club logos for their games.
"We are very pleased to begin this collaboration with the NBA beginning with the first Jr. NBA League Olympiakos in Greece" stated the CEO of Olympiacos, Christos Stavropoulos. "Our role as a basketball team and of the top clubs in Europe is to promote the game, its values and bring all young children near sports, boys and girls who want to feel the passion and experience these unique moments only basketball can offer ".
"We are excited to co-organize the first Jr. NBA league for Greece," said Executive Director of Panathinaikos Superfoods Panagiotis Triantopoulos. "The NBA, the top basketball organization, is joining forces with Panathinaikos to present a program that aims to promote the values of the group to the idea of fair play alongside the commitment to always succeed, combining them with the talents of young children in academies which are the next generation of champions in basketball in Greece. The successful operation of the Panathinaikos academy with over 400 children, is testament to the high quality of training services".
"We are pleased to partner with Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, two historical clubs in European basketball to start the first Jr. NBA League in Greece," said NBA EMEA Vice President, Basketball Business Operations Jesus Bueno. "This program for schools and basketball academies will create a happy environment for the children to be able to compete with one another, not only to learn the sport of basketball but other important life lessons as well, like teamwork and respect. We look forward to organizing and to have the first champions of the Jr. NBA Olympiacos and Jr. NBA League in 2017 ".
As in the NBA system, teams in each league will be divided into two regions and six categories. In each championship the first eight teams from each region will qualify for the playoffs with two heads to meet together in the final to become the first NBA Jr Olympiacos and Jr NBA Panathinaikos champion.
Along with promoting interest in the game, the junior leagues will promote all the values of the NBA and those of Olympiakos and Panathinaikos on teamwork, proper sports education, fighting, being prepared and of a healthy lifestyle through the competitiveness of the league and the Jr NBA Youth Clinics.
The Jr NBA, the global basketball program with the participation of boys and girls, teaches beyond the basic skills, the moral values of the game from the lowest age groups with the gnomon to improve the basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. During the season 2015-16 the NBA will be able to inspire these values to 12 million people, from basketball participation in these junior programs in 35 countries!
For more information about the Jr NBA Olympiacos and the Jr NBA Panathinaikos Basketball League visit visit http://jr.nba.com/.
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About Olympiacos
Olympiacos BC is a Greek professional basketball club, founded in 1925, and is one of the most successful teams in European basketball, having won three European Championships, a Triple Crown, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 Greek championship and 9 Cups Greece. Olympiacos BC is an important part of the Euroleague and in addition to three European Championships (1997, 2012, 2013), has occupied the second place in the final in the Euroleague four times (1994, 1995, 2010, 2015) and have participated in nine Euroleague Final Fours (1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015), making them the most successful European basketball organization in the last eight years.
About Panathinaikos
The Panathinaikos BSA has a successful presence in the last 96 years and historically supported by millions of loyal fans. The commitment of the team to success is demonstrated through six European Championships, 34 Greek Championships, 17 Greek Cups and the Intercontinental Cup that have been won over the years, along with the consistency to be among the top European basketball clubs. Euroleague announced through its official website that "PANATHINAIKOS BSA is the most successful club of the last century" (October 2012).
About the NBA
The NBA is a global sports and media company, around three professional leagues: NBA, WNBA and NVA Development League. The league has established a significant international presence with games in 215 countries and in 49 languages; the NBA has products for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. The NBA roster at the beginning of season 2015-16 included 100 international players from 37 different countries and territories. Digital NBA includes NBA.com and NBA app, which achieved a record traffic during the 2015-16 season and the NBA TV. The NBA has created one of the largest communities of social media in the world, with more than one billion likes and followers on all platforms, the league, teams, and players. Through NBA Cares, the league is facing important social issues in collaboration with internationally recognized youth organizations, serving, supporting education, youth, family, growth and health.