The EuroLeague Final Four is the perfect place for One Team to demonstrate the way in which it impacts lives all year round. Between Thursday, May 23, and Sunday, May 26, One Team hosted a series of events that positively impacted the community and good causes.

 

To kick things off, One Team put on a session for the Final Four volunteers on Thursday to help them understand just what the program represents while creating a bond between one another ahead of the event. The volunteers took part in a typical One Team session, which included five stations in which different activities were carried out by ALBA Berlin’s One Team Coaches and Manager, in addition to three Final Four Ambassadors in Joe Arlauckas, Patrick Femerling and David Rivers.

 

 

“Of the weekend that I spend here, we do so many things,” reflected Joe Arlauckas. “I always work with the volunteers on the first day and \[the Final Four Ambassadors session\] is always the last day. They’re two special days, really. \[The Final Four Ambassadors session\] is the most special for me because this is the way I started with the EuroLeague, with One Team. Every time I hear that they started in 2012 and I joined in 2014, it makes me feel more of a part of it. The most important thing is it’s a way for us to give back. Everybody talks about giving back, but sometimes there’s not a way to give back. One Team gives us that opportunity.”

 

The following day, Lisa Tetzner Schule elementary school took center stage as One Team and BKT came together to unveil a refurbished court. Once the unveiling was done, it was time for the fun to begin. The schoolkids, who are socially disadvantaged children in a socio-economically challenging environment, were able to witness a spectacular breakdancing display, before joining in for some One Team activities featuring Final Four Ambassadors Femerling and Heiko Schaffartzik. There were so many smiles on the kids’ faces, and they now have an improved basketball court that they can make the most of.

 

“The most important thing is that the kids feel great,” commented Patrick Femerling. “I think they had fun, and we always have fun. Every year we do it, every time we do it, it’s something special. We are one society and One Team.”

 

On Saturday morning, One Team took over Kraftwerk, the location for the Final Four FanZone, by putting on a session for ALBA’s One Team participants that featured players from all four Final Four clubs. Present at the event were: Juancho Hernangomez and Kostas Antetokounmpo from Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Eli Ndiaye from Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul duo Nigel Hayes-Davis and Georgios Papagiannis, and Olympiacos Piraeus pair Kostas Papanikolaou and Giannoulis Larentzakis. They joined in with the on-court activities, which were led by ALBA’s One Team Coaches, then the session came to a close with an exhibition game for fun that saw the players and participants mixed together across two teams.

Championship game day saw another One Team session at Kraftwerk, only this time it featured the Final Four Ambassadors and participants from Special Olympics Germany. ALBA’s One Team Coaches once again prepared the on-court drills, with the Final Four Ambassadors and participants getting familiar with one another before an exhibition game closed the session. The playful nature of the exhibition game led to some laughs, too, as Joe Arlauckas – playing for the team in the black bibs – tried to steal any player who was making shots for the orange team, leaving Femerling and Felipe Reyes’s side shorthanded. Nevertheless, the orange team came out on top and everyone came together one last time in a circle before shouting “One Team”. Once the session had come to an end, the Final Four Ambassadors posed for photos and signed autographs for the participants from Special Olympics Germany. The Final Four Ambassadors who were present were: Joe Arlauckas, Patrick Femerling, Felipe Reyes, Ramunas Siskauskas, Jonas Maciulis, Igor Rakocevic and David Rivers.

 

“This is what it’s really all about at the end of the day, giving these kids a moment of joy where they can be active and express themselves with the ambassadors of EuroLleague One Team,” said David Rivers. “This is really what’s most important during this week, really. The games are great, but what One Team does is immeasurable, the impact it has on local communities and projects and events like this.”

 

“These types of events are very nice for us former basketball players that can play a little with the guys from Special Olympics Germany and One Team,” noted Felipe Reyes. “We are very happy to be here to spend some time having fun and, above all, seeing them so happy.”

 

“I always say that it’s a very good session, a very good event,” stated Ramunas Siskauskas. “It’s very important for everybody – for the kids, for Euroleague \[Basketball\], for us. We all are One Team, so I think these words say everything.”

 

“This participation in Euroleague \[Basketball\]’s One Team is very important,” said Jonas Maciulis. “It’s important for the kids. It’s very nice to be part of it for us as ex-players because we understand that this participation is needed. We have to give our contribution to communities.”

 

A few hours after the Final Four Ambassadors and Special Olympics Germany participants took over the court on the upper floor of Kraftwerk, another collaboration between One Team and BKT saw a bike donation event take place. The joint venture saw 30 bikes donated to ALBA Berlin’s One Team program and to Special Olympics Germany, with the aim being to encourage healthy habits and promote sustainable mobility for communities in Berlin.

 

“Thank you so much for this four-year collaboration with One Team,” said Marco Santin, sponsorships specialist at BKT. “And a special thank you to ALBA Berlin and Special Olympics for accepting the BKT bikes. We love the fact that together we are able to foster a positive and concrete change with this donation."

 

“All of this is thanks to BKT,” added Abigail Martin, Director of Sustainability and Development Projects at Euroleague Basketball. “We’ve been in partnership for four years and it’s all built on communities and everything One Team stands for. So the fact we have a partner like BKT that deeply supports our goals is amazing.”

 

Basketball fans from all over the world were able to see a couple of One Team activities during the two showpiece events on Sunday, too. First, during halftime of the ANGT Championship Game at Uber Eats Music Hall, Euroleague Basketball invited ALBA’s One Team participants to take part in a One Team drill, accompanied by one player from each ANGT participant team apart from the two finalists. They participated in an activity in front of the crowd, which allowed for a powerful and inclusive experience. The main purpose of this activation was to show to these young players the importance to be close to their local communities and become not only a professional player but also a role model.

 

Then, between the first and second quarter of the EuroLeague Championship Game at Uber Arena, ALBA’s One Team participants and athletes from Special Olympics Germany went onto the court alongside Final Four Ambassadors for an unforgettable moment of recognition and a family picture.

A number of activities took place in Berlin, Germany

One Team left its mark at the 2024 Final Four

The two have joined forces again, having worked together on a project in Athens and Istanbul over the last three seasons

One Team, BKT come together to open refurbished court in Berlin

The power of One Team grows further each year and even more so when a partner such as BKT is ready to help take things to the next level. On Friday afternoon, One Team and BKT collaborated once again to help refurbish a basketball court at Lisa-Tetzner Schule elementary school, with the aim of helping improve the lives of youngsters who are in need or at risk of exclusion.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague club ALBA Berlin has been working with Lisa-Tetzner Schule for the last few seasons as it looks to provide support for socially disadvantaged children and young teenagers in a socio-economically challenging environment. With the Final Four coming to Berlin, One Team and BKT came together and decided to provide an improved space for locals to play.

"It's a great pleasure to be here to inaugurate this great basketball court," said Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe. "When \[One Team\] decided to approach us regarding sponsorship, we could not believe the impact that this sponsorship can have on a community. I believe that BKT has demonstrated with actions these projects have a great meaning for us. This is the third project that we have created along with One Team, and it is proof that we can do better to support the growth of communities. I hope that this court will bring a lot of happiness, joy, growth and opportunity to all the kids, to all the students and to all the residents of this neighborhood."

"I'm incredibly excited and proud that we have been able to open a third refurbished court thanks to our partnership with BKT," added Abigail Martin, Director of Sustainability and Development Projects at Euroleague Basketball. "These are honestly the best days for me. I would like to give a big thank you to ALBA Berlin, to Lisa-Tetzner Schule elementary school, and to specially Lucia and the BKT team for helping to make all of this possible. These projects are one of the highlights of the Final Four, as the social work put in by many different people comes together and ends up with a lot of excited individuals, in this case children. We are so, so thankful for everyone's efforts and we would love to have more of these community-committed projects in the future."

During Friday’s event, the participants took part in some One Team drills and featured in an exhibition tournament that was held by ALBA’s One Team Coaches. Former ALBA center Patrick Femerling, who played for the club over three spells and won a EuroLeague title with FC Barcelona in 2003, was present at the event, as was four-year former EuroLeague guard Heiko Schaffartzik. They both joined in with the activities with the children and were delighted with the work done by One Team.

"It was a lot of fun because the kids had a lot of fun," commented Heiko Schaffartzik. "The only reason why the kids could have fun is because the court exists. Without the court, the kids wouldn't be able to have this experience. Patrick Femerling is here and the EuroLeague is here. Next week they will not be, but the court will still be here, so they can still have fun and play by themselves. They're very enthusiastic kids here, they're really competitive and they really enjoy playing basketball, so this is a fantastic thing for the community."

This is the third straight year in which One Team and BKT have gone hand in hand to refurbish a court and help the community as a result, having improved the Kypseli court in Athens and given children there a new home where they can play basketball and have fun with friends. Also, in the 2021-22 season, the partnership between One Team and BKT saw the refurbishment of two courts at the TEB Atasehir Anatolian High School, the social partner of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul for that season.

In addition to giving back to Berlin by helping to take this basketball court to another level, One Team is also putting on a session featuring Final Four players at Kraftwerk on Saturday and Sunday, which will feature some of the biggest names at the Final Four, along with the participation of the Final Four Ambassadors.

One of the best parts about Final Four weekend – apart from the basketball on the court – is when the players from the four clubs come along to enjoy a One Team session. This year, that took place at the FanZone on Saturday morning, with plenty of fans also present to see some of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s biggest stars join forces with the One Team participants from ALBA Berlin.

Final Four stars thrilled One Team participants at the FanZone

One of the best parts about Final Four weekend – apart from the basketball on the court – is when the players from the four clubs come along to enjoy a One Team session. This year, that took place at the FanZone on Saturday morning, with plenty of fans also present to see some of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s biggest stars join forces with the One Team participants from ALBA Berlin.

Enjoying the activities were Juancho Hernangomez and Kostas Antetokounmpo from Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Eli Ndiaye from Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul duo Nigel Hayes-Davis and Georgios Papagiannis, and Olympiacos Piraeus pair Kostas Papanikolaou and Giannoulis Larentzakis.

The players joined ALBA’s One Team participants for some One Team drills that were led by ALBA’s One Team coaches, which instantly brought lots of smiles to everyone’s faces.

“It’s always good to give back and do nice things, to try to be a face, a pillar in the community, an inspiration and try to spread joy,” said Nigel Hayes-Davis. “It’s always good to get out and do something like this. The main goal is to make sure the kids enjoy themselves, and I think they had a good time today. They were playing basketball with people they watch play on TV. Perhaps some of the kids look up to some of us as idols or some of their favorite players, so to be able to get out there and interact with them, take pictures, play games is hopefully an experience that will inspire them and be something that they’ll remember and enjoy.” 

Once all the drills had finished, an exhibition game took place as the Final Four players were split between the two teams, with ALBA’s One Team participants also being split across the two teams. The kids were able to receive passes from their favorite places and try to score, or vice versa. The stuff of dreams!

“I’m really happy that I could take part \[today\],” noted Juancho Hernangomez. “I’ve had a really good year \[assisting with One Team\] with my team, Panathinaikos, and it’s truly an honor for me to help. I’m really glad, really happy. It fills me with joy, I love doing things to help people. Even just being with them in a photo, a video is something great for them. To bring a smile to their faces is the best feeling there is.”

ALBA’s One Team program this season aims to support socially disadvantaged children and young teenagers from the Lisa-Tetzner-Schule elementary school, which is located in a socio-economically challenging area of Berlin.

“You can see how much everyone enjoys it – from the players to the kids,” commented Kostas Papanikolaou. “It’s an amazing thing, it’s an amazing initiative. It started many years ago and still up to this day, it provides a lot of smiles, a lot of good things for everyone. I really, really enjoy being here and participating in these events.”

The One Team program implemented by ALBA is embedded in the club’s nationwide SPORT VERNETZT initiative, a project which seeks to bring the community together and help them develop an excitement for physical activities, as well as use basketball as a tool to focus on teamwork, integration, motivation communication and tolerance.

“It’s incredible that we can help the kids, that they enjoy themselves with us and that they can play with us,” added Eli Ndiaye. “It’s an honor to share this experience with them. The truth is that that it’s great as the kids get to have fun in an incredible way.”

 Members from all four clubs attended on Saturday morning

Final Four volunteers discover the power of One Team

Each year, many individuals who have signed up as volunteers for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four participate in the One Team Welcome session, and this year was no different. During the session held on Thursday, 23 May, the volunteers got to learn the ins and outs of what the One Team program is.

They gained a greater understanding of social inclusion and its many benefits, while the One Team Coaches and Manager from ALBA Berlin took center stage by explaining the One Team methodology in more depth.

#### Markus Friedrichsen – EuroLeague Final Four Volunteer 

*From Munich - third One Team experience 2015, 2022 and 2024*

"It’s always a lot of fun. You meet people from all over the world, have great experiences and have a chance to look behind the scenes. It’s such a great event. I can recommend it to anyone. "

Former players involved in the One Team program offered their advice to the volunteers in order to ensure they are the most prepared they can be. It became clear that teamwork will be crucial, with all involved encouraged to create a positive atmosphere that puts the One Team methodology front and center.

#### Meritxell Wu Lu – EuroLeague Final Four Volunteer

*From Barcelona - first time*

"It’s a really good experience to connect with my fellow volunteers. We have a really big team. We didn’t know each other that well so this was a really good experience to get to know each other through our common passion, which is basketball, and share our experiences. 

It’s a great experience to know more about EuroLeague and not just the tournament but also what’s behind it. "

There were five stations where the volunteers took part in life skills tasks, which were led by ALBA’s One Team Coaches and Manager, as well as three Final Four Ambassadors: Joe Arlauckas, Patrick Femerling and David Rivers.

To close the session, the Final Four Volunteers took the opportunity to take some pictures with the treasure everyone wants to get their hands on in Berlin this weekend – the EuroLeague trophy.

They learned all about the program upon their arrival in Berlin

This get-together with a group of residents was organised by the FC Barcelona Foundation and is part of Euroleague Basketball's One Team social responsibility program.

Barcelona's One Team ambassadors visit juvenile detention center

In an activity promoted by the Barça Foundation, Oscar da Silva and James Nnaji, the team's One Team ambassadors this season, recently paid a visit to inmates in the Quatre Camins Juvenile Detention Centre in Barcelona.

One Team is a social responsibility program created by Euroleague Basketball and, in Barça's case, the FC Barcelona Foundation are responsible for putting it into practice. The project is held weekly at the Catalonia Juvenile Detention Center, using basketball as a tool to promote the personal and communal development of the group of young people involved and to smooth their social reintegration.

The players enjoyed an afternoon of basketball and conversation with around 20 young people who play the sport every week, a key factor in the social reintegration process the center is working towards. Da Silva and Nnaji both joined in the basketball session, with the pair of One Team ambassadors getting involved right from the warm-up in the activities. The duo subsequently joined teams that played each other in a series of short games.

"For me, coming here to see the kids is a privilege," Nnaji said. "\[To be able\] to give them life advice. I can see how happy they are that we're here. So, it's good."

During the weekly two-hour sessions, a Barça Foundation social instructor carries out a range of activities with the inmates, using basketball as an integrating and inclusive tool, which also encourages those values that help cultivate the personal and social side of each individual. These values include teamwork, confidence, empathy, cooperation and self-esteem.

"It's the cool thing about sport: you can learn a lot of life lessons, values like hard work, dedication and having a common goal as a team," da Silva said. "I think that they are things that'll be good for them both in here and outside, so that they can all have a pleasant life once they leave here."

Over the course of the season, the young residents receive several visits from Barça players from both the men's and women's basketball teams and ambassadors from the One Team project, who also participate in sessions. Similarly, these young people have also had the chance to attend training sessions and matches at FC Barcelona's Palau Blaugrana sports arena.

Euroleague Basketball launched its One Team project in the 2011-12 season, with the aim of encouraging the various clubs involved in the highest-level continental competition to carry out social initiatives in order to use the power of basketball as a life-changing tool.

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its One Team program, so it has looked back on all the excellent work done by the club and its community partner over the last decade. Together, they have looked to use the power of basketball to change the lives of groups who are at risk of exclusion. 

Players, both past and present, in addition to participants and their parents, all came together to reflect on the way in which Baskonia’s One Team efforts have impacted lives and changed things for the better.

In the style of a news program, Baskonia center Khalifa Diop is joined by Aida Thiam, a current participant in the program who acts as the co-host. They deliver several important messages about the power of One Team, as do the many contributors throughout the video.

There are anecdotes from Godson and Goodnews in London, two brothers who were part of Baskonia’s One Team project in the past, before we get to hear from Khady, the mother of Fatima and Aida, who saw first-hand the impact that Baskonia’s work with One Team can have.

Baskonia celebrates its 10th year working with One Team

“This project goes far beyond sports, the values on which it is based, as \[it focuses on\] commitment, teamwork and respect for others,” says Khady. “They make our children grow on and off the court.”

Next up are Joseph and Prosper, who both started their basketball careers thanks to the One Team project and are now playing for Baskonia’s youth teams. Dorleta de la Presa, the One Team Manager at Baskonia, then reflects on the way in which the program has evolved over the last 10 years.

Last but not least, there was a fond message from Baskonia’s One Team Ambassador in the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons, Jayson Granger, who showed that despite leaving Buesa Arena almost two years ago, he still carries the club’s One Team program in his heart: “It was a pleasure and a source of pride for me to have been part of this family, to have spent unforgettable moments with all the guys and, above all, an honor to have been an ambassador for these great projects that are crossing borders.”

Baskonia continues to be one of the leading clubs in terms of its work with One Team, and here’s to many more years of continuing to change people’s lives!

Several stories and memories were collected to mark the occasion

On February 8, six days after the One Team Games came to a close, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan – in partnership with Fondazione Laureus Sport for Good Italia, and Scalo Milano Outlet & More – created its very own One Team Day for 160 children from the Istituto Comprensivo Arcadia in Gratosoglio, a neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Milan. The Italian club pulled out all the stops, too, making it an event that the kids would never forget.

The day began with the children being picked up from their school in yellow buses provided by Scalo Milano Outlet & More, which took them directly to the Forum, Milan’s arena. Once they had arrived, the kids were able to watch on from the stands as Ettore Messina put his Milan players through a final training session ahead of that night’s fixture against reigning EuroLeague champion Real Madrid. That was just the start of the fun.

Once the session came to a close, the One Team participants made their way down from the bleachers and joined the Milan players on the court, meaning they were able to be alongside their heroes. Just as expected, there were smiles and heartwarming interactions all round, with the squad taking part in a photo with the children in an unforgettable moment.

Then, in the afternoon, the kids were able to check out Milan’s locker room and trophy room before heading out onto the training court once more – but this time in game-ready clothes to emulate their heroes such as Kyle Hines, Nikola Mirotic or Shavon Shields. Again, the One Team participants could not hide their delight during the One Team session, and they even got a private visit from Milan guard Giordano Bortolani, who came along to offer some advice and ask the children some questions.

Milan’s One Team group is very familiar with One Team Ambassador Gigi Datome, and he was keen to get his photo taken with the participants before the day was over. There was also the chance for the kids to turn into journalists as they asked questions to Bortolani in a press conference room, and three participants later took the players’ spot in the press conference to respond to questions regarding their own One Team experiences.

“Participating in the One Team project with Olimpia Milano was an extraordinary experience,” stated Datome. “Having the opportunity to share my passion for sports and contribute to the education of young people is rewarding. Through this project, I was able to see firsthand how sports can inspire and transform lives. Interacting with the kids involved has always been a special moment.  It is exciting to see the importance of growing not only as athletes, but also as individuals. The results we are getting confirm that investing in the union of sports and education is the right way to build a better future.”

Later in the day, it was time for the main event: Milan vs. Real Madrid. The kids were seen on the court during the pre-game activities, joining the Real and Milan players as they underwent their final preparations. One lucky participant was able to carry the game ball and place it on the pedestal, too. After, it was game time!

“For years, Olimpia Milano has been proud to pursue the One Team project, a testament to our commitment not only in the world of sports, but also in \[terms of our\] social responsibility,” said Michele Samaden, Milan’s One Team Manager. “This project represents the heart of our mission: to unite people through basketball, teaching important values such as respect, teamwork and dedication. Each year, the One Team project grows, as does my figure within this wonderful journey. This is not only a sign of our success, but also a reminder of the importance of our work and the positive impact we can have on the community.”

At the end of the third quarter of the game involving Milan and Real, the crowd inside the Forum was invited to support the club’s 2023-24 One Team project by running the Milano Marathon together, which takes place on April 7, with Fondazione Laureus Italia. Having won the gold award at the One Team Awards for its work during the 2022-23 campaign, the initiative is enriched by donations from companies and individuals who decide to run the solidarity marathon with Laureus, as they actively contribute to the One Team project.

“To make a difference, we need important partners with whom we can develop projects that make an impact and last over time,” noted Daria Braga of Laureus. “This is what we have been developing with Olimpia for five years now and which is gaining important recognition within the One Team ecosystem itself; there are the awards, which we are very proud of, to prove it. But above all, it is demonstrated by the interest and participation in the project of the young people who are here today to tell us the importance of this initiative.”

The Italian club put on an event for its participants after playing both of its games on the road during the One Team Games week

Milan lays on a special One Team Day

The two clubs’ One Team programs joined forces for a special event in Munich

ASVEL, Bayern come together for a once-in-a-lifetime experience

January 25, 2024, is a day that will never be forgotten by the One Team participants of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne – and the help of FC Bayern Munich made it possible.

Despite ASVEL playing on the road at Bayern, the club surprised the individuals in its One Team program by organizing a trip to Munich. The participants flew to the German city on January 24 and got behind-the-scenes access, which included a tour of BMW Park, before also checking out Bayern’s future home, SAP Arena, and the stadium of FC Bayern’s soccer team, Allianz Arena. 

But the best was yet to come. Having got to stay in the same hotel as the ASVEL squad, leading to interactions with the players themselves, including One Team Ambassadors Paris Lee and Charles Kahudi, those in ASVEL’s One Team program were able to take part in a game against Bayern’s One Team participants during the halftime intermission of the clubs’ Round 23 contest in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. 

The individuals arrived at BMW Park as VIPs and even had the chance to see their heroes up close and personal by sitting in courtside seats. Then, once the ASVEL and Bayern players went to the locker rooms, it was the turn of One Team to take center stage. 

There were smiles across the board and the chant of “One Team” could be heard by all in the bleachers. It was truly a day that those in ASVEL’s One Team program will never forget.

ASVEL, Bayern show the power of a good deed

The latest edition of the One Team Games came to a close after Round 25 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, with basketball fans across the continent getting to see the excellent work being done by One Team.

Over Rounds 24 and 25 in the EuroLeague and Round 17 in the BKT EuroCup, the clubs under the Euroleague Basketball umbrella came together to shine a light on their communities and create moments that will forever be remembered by those who took part.

Participants in the clubs’ One Team programs became the protagonists during pre-game, taking photos with the teams’ One Team Ambassadors, and one lucky participant during each fixture was even able to bring the game ball to the officials. Then, at halftime, the fans in attendance got to see some One Team activities on the floor featuring the One Team participants. What’s more, fans could engage with the One Team Games by taking part in digital games and sharing their support for the program on social media.

After another excellent edition of the One Team Games, we would like to thank all of the EuroLeague and EuroCup clubs, esteemed One Team Ambassadors, and every individual intricately involved in uplifting the local communities. Let’s do it all again next year!

It was a resounding success for all involved!