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!

The One Team Games brought smiles and unforgettable moments!

It is that time of year once again, as the One Team Games takes center stage across the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup. All 38 clubs under the Euroleague Basketball umbrella, together with One Team, have the opportunity to give even greater prominence to their programs, which impacts hundreds of people who are at risk of social exclusion across the continent.

The One Team Games are back!

Taking place between January 30 and February 2, 2024, which covers Rounds 24 and 25 in the EuroLeague and Round 17 in the EuroCup, clubs will be able to show how they are working towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 10. The target is to specifically look at reducing inequalities in our communities, something the Euroleague Basketball clubs have made sure to address with their respective programs.

"One Team Games is a celebration of our 38 clubs and countless One Team participants, past and present, because their efforts are so meaningful to their communities," Roser Queralto, Euroleague Basketball's Deputy CEO, said. "Part of reducing inequality is narrowing the social exclusion gap so that more and more at-risk people know that they are truly valued. One Team is aimed precisely at achieving that reduction, program by program and season by season across the continent."

For fans in attendance across the 28 games – 18 in the EuroLeague and 10 in the EuroCup – there will be plenty of things to keep an eye on. Before tipoff, there will be a family picture featuring the One Team participants from the home side, as well as the One Team Ambassadors from both teams, at midcourt. Then, a One Team participant will bring the game ball to the officials before the fixture gets underway.

At halftime, the home crowd will get to see some One Team activities take place, so they have a chance to cheer on the participants – just as they would for the players. Whether you are watching from the arena or the comfort of your own home, you will see special #WeAreAllOneTeam stickers on EuroLeague and EuroCup courts. Turkish Airlines and BKT, the naming partners of the EuroLeague and the EuroCup, actively support the One Team Games and have worked with One Team to place the #WeAreAllOneTeam hashtag on the teams’ courts for this special event.

Likewise, the #WeAreAllOneTeam hashtag will also be highlighted across plenty of digital platforms, too, with One Team Ambassadors, players, clubs and fans all encouraged to show their support by sharing the program’s motto on social media.

"It's my second year involved with One Team and I think it's a beautiful project that deserves our support as players,” said Oscar da Silva of FC Barcelona. “Sport in general is a great tool to teach and learn a lot of values and skills that are really important in life, like teamwork, hard work, respect. I believe that in our particular case (youngsters from penitentiary center), we work on these values so that they can use them in their futures.”

There are further digital activations that will take place, with two different contests having been designed ahead of the One Team Games. The first one will be available for fans inside the arenas, as they can scan a QR code that will allow them to participate in a game where they can learn more about the One Team program and have the chance to win regular-season tickets for their favorite EuroLeague or EuroCup team. 

The second way in which fans can get involved is via the One Team social media accounts, where there will be a personality quiz that will allow you to see which One Team Ambassador has the same personality traits as you. By taking part in this quiz, you have the opportunity to win a jersey of your favorite EuroLeague or EuroCup player.

Throughout the One Team Games, the Euroleague Basketball clubs and the One Team Ambassadors are invited to show further support and awareness about One Team by sharing a special filter that they can use on their social media accounts. There will be many more special activations that the clubs do before and during the games themselves, too.

“As a man, it is important for me to renew my commitment to the One Team program,” noted Gauthier Denis of Paris Basketball. “In my daily life, I consider it essential to take time to help others. And whatever the cause... I want to believe that sport remains one of the rare places where everyone plays on an equal footing. There is no distinction of origin, gender or even religion. For all these reasons, I am very proud to be one of the One Team Ambassadors.”

One Team, supported by Turkish Airlines as the One Team Founding Patron and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as Proud Partner, uses basketball to achieve real social impact in our communities. With an innovative model of interconnectedness across an entire continent, Euroleague Basketball and its clubs have developed a complete CSR program that brings together activities from each team in an integrated, impactful way, working under the theme of "community integration" that actively addresses targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities.

The partnership between One Team and BKT went to another level last summer, as the One Team-BKT Legacy Project saw [the refurbishment of a basketball court in the Patissia neighborhood in central Athen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/news/one-team-bkt-legacy-project-opens-refurbished-courts-in-athens/)s in mid-June. Ever since then, there have been plenty of big smiles on people's faces.

The Legacy Project is a cooperation between BKT, an Indian multinational company that specializes in the production of Off-Highway tires, and Euroleague Basketball's Corporate Social Responsibility program, One Team, together with its Founding Patron, Turkish Airlines, and with the support of the Athens Municipality through its "Adopt Your City" program . The goal of the One Team-BKT Legacy Project is to improve the lives of youngsters and people in need or at risk of exclusion by providing better facilities to play basketball and learn the life skills that come from the sport's values.

### Panathinaikos's Earth session

 On December 11, 2023, it was the turn of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens to grace the court in Patissia. On what was a special day for the club's One Team participants, they took their session to the refurbished outdoor court and were joined by One Team Ambassadors Kostas Sloukas, Kostas Antetokounmpo and Juancho Hernangomez. The Greens' One Team Manager and two coaches were present, too.

The participants involved in Panathinaikos's One Team project this season – and those who were at the Greens' event on December 11 – were those under the umbrella of the Special Olympics Greece, the club's social partner. Panathinaikos is looking to help people with intellectual disabilities identify their strengths and realize their potential, not only in basketball but as members of society.

Euroleague Basketball also worked in parallel with the Earth Organization in Greece to include fun climate education content in the sessions. Following a session that saw the participants learn about the importance of responsible consumption and reducing food waste, in turn reflecting on the food choices we make, there was a practical element in which effort, ambition, respect and cooperation came to the fore.

The participants were taught how they can have a healthy and active lifestyle, which ties in with their integration into society and their personal development, before putting their One Team thinking caps on to cultivate their athletic, social and environmental skills, all in line with the One Team methodology.

Then, they were able to use the information that they had learned, primarily the journey of how food starts with seeds and ends up on our plates, with some One Team drills, which featured some basketball elements. From there, the participants had to find and identify vegetables by once again partaking in One Team drills, with basketball sprinkled in. To finish, they were put through their paces by using the One Team drills to learn and practice sorting recycling materials, which will help them in their day-to-day lives. 

### Olympiacos's Earth session

One day later, on December 12, 2023, it was Olympiacos's turn to head to the Patissia court. One Team Ambassadors Kostas Papanikolaou and Giannoulis Larentzakis were both there to assist the Reds' One Team Manager and Coaches, who looked to make this a memorable occasion for their participants.

The individuals who took part in Olympiacos's Earth session were those from the 1st Special Elementary School of Agios Dimitrios, which works with children with intellectual disabilities from the region of Athens, and the Facility of Schisto, which serves as a controlled facility for the temporary accommodation of asylum seekers. The goal of Olympiacos's program this year is to address the social issues of intellectual disabilities and also the adaptation into communities for refugees.

As happened one day prior, Euroleague Basketball once again partnered with the Earth Organization in Greece, which was on hand to offer its climate content both before and during the session. The day's events began with an educational element, as they learned about the journey food goes on from the field to our plates, as well as the way in which we have to try to protect the environment. 

Then, the participants planted some seeds – all while playing and talking – and they began to understand the true usefulness of plants. The message that was being put to those present is that we must enjoy a harmonious coexistence with nature, so they were given the cognitive and emotional resources in order to get a grasp of this. 

There was a fun task in which the participants took part in One Team drills which featured elements of basketball, as they had to identify fruits and vegetables. They also learnt and practiced sorting recycled materials, again by using One Team drills. The final event of the day saw a theater game take place in which the participants showed their knowledge of the journey of food from the field to our plates, all while applying it to the One Team methodology.

### Even brighter days ahead

After Istanbul's amazing project in 2022, the success of the One Team-BKT Legacy Project in Patissia has been so great that the mission is expanding. The One Team-BKT Legacy Project is already looking to have a creative positive impact on more Euroleague Basketball communities.

One Team-BKT Legacy Project continues to grow and grow

Today, December 5, is International Volunteer Day and as such it gives us a chance to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped with One Team, either in the past or in the present day. Volunteers provide essential support for the One Team managers as they look to implement a beneficial program for the participants.

The volunteers’ assistance makes it possible for even more of the participants to get attended to, and this in turn creates a better overall experience with One Team. After all, all together we can accomplish more if we work together as One Team.

“Engaging in One Team allows you to positively influence children's lives, providing them with skills and lessons beyond basketball that contribute to their personal growth,” commented Petros Belsis, who helps Olympiacos Piraeus’s One Team program as a volunteer.

“Contributing to the well-being and happiness of others brings a profound sense of fulfillment and purpose that's deeply rewarding. Overall, volunteering with One Team isn't just about basketball – it’s about creating a positive impact, building relationships, fostering personal growth and contributing to a more inclusive world.”

Last season, 74 volunteers lent a hand to the One Team projects of Euroleague Basketball’s clubs, and there are many who have once again given up their time to positively impact the lives of others.

“For me, being a volunteer means helping others, doing good things that improve other people's lives,” said Anastasia Korablova, who helps Prometey Slobozhanske’s One Team program. “You develop yourself and you’re doing something useful. 

“It is impossible not to smile when you see the grateful eyes of children. It generates positive emotions, brings variety to your daily routine, gives you an opportunity to develop yourself and expand your horizons, while you can also acquire new skills, experience and knowledge.”

“It is a very healthy atmosphere where we all are connected through sports and want to be better,” added Caterina Reissenveber, a volunteer with Zalgiris Kaunas’s One Team program. “Volunteering, not just in this program but in general, will improve you in different fields and help you to connect with people from around the world.”

It is a big commitment to give up your time to help others, but this is what volunteers do for One Team right across the continent. Yet, as Christie Miliordou puts it, a volunteer for Olympiacos’s One Team program, there is a big reward for that sacrifice: “There’s nothing like seeing the smile on children’s faces when we are laughing and playing together!”

The participants in the One Team programs of Euroleague Basketball’s clubs are at the forefront of everything to do with the program, but none of it would be possible without the help of the One Team managers and volunteers.