For kids growing up in the district of Gratosoglio in the Italian city of Milan, it is not always easy to find a safe haven to socialize. Yet, thanks to Olimpia Milano and its One Team project, children that otherwise would have been forgotten about have been given an opportunity to develop themselves as individuals. Here, we discuss the success stories of three children involved in Milano's One Team sessions in the 2022-23 season: Emma, Josuè and Sama.

Olimpia Milano's success stories: The power of basketball

For kids growing up in the district of Gratosoglio in the Italian city of Milan, it is not always easy to find a safe haven to socialize. Yet, thanks to EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and its One Team project, children that otherwise would have been forgotten about have been given an opportunity to develop themselves as individuals. Here, we discuss the success stories of three children involved in Milan's One Team sessions in the 2022-23 season: Emma, Josuè and Sama.

In the case of Emma, she joined Milan's One Team program late, coming along for the first time during the third session, but it didn’t take long for her to come out of her shell. After all, she had only agreed to take part as she wanted to be close to her friend Martina, who is a big Milan fan.

Emma typically struggled to deal with her insecurities in the past, but she nevertheless joined in with one of the group activities and, just like that, she felt at home. Despite initially appearing a little lost, she soon started to display the traits of her personality that had previously not been on show. Emma discovered her value as a girl and also as a player, and she came away from the One Team sessions with unforgettable memories, all thanks to getting out of her comfort zone.

Josuè, meanwhile, has a different story. His family was dealing with financial difficulties, yet with the help of the Arcadia Institute in Gratosoglio, he could keep his basketball dream alive. He was able to meet the Milan players and listened intently when they dished out any advice, while the sport of basketball proved to be the perfect way for him to overcome his shyness.

Josuè initially joined Milan's One Team project in 2019 and, despite fearing that he would fail even the simplest of tasks, he now takes everything in his stride. In fact, Josuè has become a reference for many of the individuals who take part in Milan's One Team program, as he is the first to arrive at the gym and has assumed a leadership role among the participants, offering advice – on and off the court – and guiding the others. From his cocoon, he has turned into a butterfly, thanks in large part to the work done as part of the One Team sessions.

Last but not least, Sama. She often felt different to many people around her due to the fact that she wears a hijab, but during the One Team sessions, she was just another member of the group. As the sessions went on, Sama grew and grew in confidence, which resulted in her personality flourishing as a result. She was not afraid to let her opinions be known, too.

Sama regularly displayed her leadership on the court, resulting in her teammates being inspired to follow her advice and desire. She always arrived at the gym with a twinkle in her eyes, and she couldn't wait to get started. Sama may at times feel different to others due to her hijab, but she is also different for another reason – she is a leader, something she discovered thanks to the One Team sessions.

For Emma, Josuè and Sama, they were able to overcome their individual obstacles and take a big leap forward as people, with Milan's One Team program helping them to make big changes in their lives. Thanks to the emphasis placed on problem solving, communication and managing emotions by Milan's One Team coaches, they were successfully able to support Emma, Josuè and Sama. Not only did Milan use the sport of basketball to bring everyone together, but it also used positive language while playing to help enhance the participants' self-esteem and self-efficacy.

The cases of Emma, Josuè and Sama are another set of success stories that have come from One Team, Euroleague Basketball's corporate social responsibility program, supported by Turkish Airlines and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as a proud partner. This past season, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan worked with community partner Laureus Sport for Good Italia for the fifth year in a row, securing a nomination for the 2022-23 One Team Program Awards in the process.

Milan's success stories: The power of basketball

We see thanks to One Team how the sport of basketball can change the lives of individuals, and that was the case for 10-year-old Aida, who was part of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz's program in the 2022-23 season. Every Tuesday, Aida would make sure to attend the One Team sessions put on by Baskonia, even though she felt very shy and somewhat afraid of how she might be received by the others.

Aida's success story: How she came out of her shell thanks to One Team

We see thanks to One Team how the sport of basketball can change the lives of individuals, and that was the case for 10-year-old Aida, who was part of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz's program in the 2022-23 season. Every Tuesday, Aida would make sure to attend the One Team sessions put on by Baskonia, even though she felt very shy and somewhat afraid of how she might be received by the others.

Baskonia, as it did with the other participants involved in its One Team program, made sure to try and make Aida feel as comfortable. One of the ways in which the club was able to help her was by encouraging her to loosen up a little bit, with the help of her mother, the One Team coach and the social integrator.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🎙️ Al habla, Aída, Samuel y Babacar en la rueda de prensa de <a href="https://twitter.com/OTEuroleague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OTEuroleague</a> 🔝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreAllOneTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreAllOneTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/2EEtIto0I2">pic.twitter.com/2EEtIto0I2</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1636057420936912896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As the weeks went by, Aida's confidence continued to grow and grow. Not only did she become more assured in herself, but she also positively affected the others, helping her teammates where possible. In fact, thanks to her blossoming personality, Aida was able to bring a sense of calmness and tranquility to the group, particularly those who are more active or require more attention. She was also not afraid to step in at times to quickly calm things down if any tension ever spilled over, which was another sign of her growth as part of the program.

"The way she addresses us is always sweet and with very good manners," said Dorleta de la Presa, Baskonia's One Team manager. "Something significant is that we have never had to call her up on any bad behaviors or comments. Aida is one of the participants from the press conference we gave for the One Team Games, and we have to say that her mother was very excited to see her. She is enormously grateful for the opportunity we have given her daughter."

All in all, she helped make the Baskonia One Team leaders' lives easier thanks to taking on the role of a young leader inside the group. Aida joined the program initially because her best friend was playing there, but along the way, she developed her intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, which allowed her to finish the program in a far better position than when she had started. This is yet another success story that has come from One Team, Euroleague Basketball's corporate social responsibility program, supported by Turkish Airlines and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as a proud partner.

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has been a part of the One Team program for many years and has cooperated with a number of organizations. This season’s partner, Gizarterako Association, focuses on social integration in the region, as the club’s 5+11 Foundation works on the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits with local boys and girls. The club is happy that it was able to contribute to this goal and to provide a space for children to grow and develop.

Ever since its founding in 2012, One Team has been proudly supported by all of the clubs competing under the Euroleague Basketball umbrella. Each year, the teams in both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup find a way to take their programs to the next level, and the One Team Program Awards is a great way for these clubs to be recognized for the outstanding work they are doing in their communities.

One Team Program Awards short list announced

Ever since its founding in 2012, One Team has been proudly supported by all of the clubs competing under the Euroleague Basketball umbrella. Each year, the teams in both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup find a way to take their programs to the next level, and the One Team Program Awards is a great way for these clubs to be recognized for the outstanding work they are doing in their communities.

Just like last year, there will be three prizes up for grabs: the awards for the One Team Gold Program, the One Team Silver Program and the One Team Bronze Program. The winners will be announced during the One Team Annual Workshop.

The judging process for the 2022-23 One Team Program Awards will also include thinkBeyond, a social impact and sustainability consultancy that supports leaders and organizations to make a positive impact on the world. The clubs will be evaluated on their One Team program planning and delivery, the involvement of ambassadors during the sessions, the marketing and communications activities that were implemented, and also the involvement of commercial partners.

"We are delighted that the clubs from both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup have continued their fantastic work when it comes to One Team, and particularly the way they are making a positive contribution to their local communities," said Roser Queralto, Euroleague Basketball's Chief Business Development Officer. "Over the course of the 2022-23 season, the One Team participants were able to benefit from the sessions put on by the clubs in many different countries, so I would like to express my gratitude and congratulate everyone involved in this year’s programs for their huge efforts and the great results achieved, especially to the eight teams who were deemed to have gone above and beyond."

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/anadolu-efes-istanbul-one-team-program/) The Turkish club worked alongside Hayal Gucu Merkezi and ANKA Sports Club for its One Team project last season. Throughout the year, Efes made sure to shine a bright light on its program by including a media partner, which ensured the maximum possible visibility in terms of digital platforms. The club's partners were there to support the project, too, while Efes ambassador Erten Gazi was regularly involved throughout the sessions. There was also an educational aspect to the program, as those involved learned about the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/cazoo-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-one-team-program/) Once again, the Spanish club partnered with Gizarterako Association for its One Team program during the 2022-23 season – and once again it has been shortlisted for the One Team Program Awards, having secured the One Team Bronze Program trophy last season. As has been the case in previous years, the partners and volunteers were heavily involved with the participants, while Baskonia did an excellent job of monitoring and evaluating those partaking in its One Team project. The club also put on fundraising events at Buesa Arena involving the children and their parents. Baskonia was a reference in terms of enjoyable drills for the participants, too.

[Dolomiti Energia Trento:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/dolomiti-energia-trento-one-team-program/) One of the two BKT EuroCup clubs nominated for this award, the Italian side had a partnership with the Spini di Gardolo Detention Center throughout last season. It was a challenging program in many ways, but what it demonstrated is a great example when it comes to overcoming difficulties. The program was able to grow in popularity as participants were able to bring along friends, which subsequently led to more people getting involved thanks to word of mouth. There were good drills implemented by Trento's One Team coaches, with strong objectives that were linked to life skills.

[EA7 Emporio Armani Milan:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-one-team-program/) Together with Laureus Sport for Good Italia, the same organization Milan paired with last season and received a nomination for the One Team Program Awards, the Italian club was able to put on awareness sessions for more than 100 participants. This not only created a big impact on the school but also in the local media, with 22 articles being written about the project. One of the ways that Milan was able to create further growth with local partnerships was by setting up different events, such as auctions and activities around its One Team program. What's more, Milan's One Team ambassadors, Kyle Hines and Gigi Datome, regularly demonstrated their commitment to the program by attending sessions.

[FC Barcelona:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/fc-barcelona-one-team-program/) The Spanish club partnered with its foundation and the General Directorate of the Juvenile Penitentiary Center to create a well-structured program, which included clear objectives and detailed session plans. Although 57% of the participants had never played basketball before, Barca was able to achieve good levels of engagement from the inmates. The One Team leaders had learnt from their previous projects, too, by increasing the time of the sessions and widening the scope of those who are able to take part. By the end of the program, Barca was able to see some strong survey results and discover a powerful story about a participant's change thanks to One Team.

[Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-one-team-program/) One year on from being selected as one of the finalists for the One Team Program Awards, Bourg is once again in contention following its new partnership with Adapei de l'Ain. In addition to excellently planning the sessions and putting in place a structured program, Bourg's One Team leaders set some strong objectives relating to the ways in which the participants could increase their level of independence. There was engagement from several partners through the sessions to aid the delivery of the program, and those individuals taking part also had a chance to learn more about nutrition as an additional educational session. Bourg regularly posted clips of its One Team sessions on social media as well, which helped keep fans up to date with the program.

[Olympiacos Piraeus:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/olympiacos-piraeus-one-team-program/) The winner of the One Team Gold Program award in each of the last two years, the Reds once again paired with the 1st Special Elementary School of Agios Dimitrios to deliver its One Team program. The club's One Team ambassadors, Sasha Vezenkov and Kostas Papanikolaou, were a constant presence throughout the sessions, while there was also a strong endorsement from the school, which was the social partner. Olympiacos was able to put on different events thanks to the support of its sponsors and partners, with special celebrations for Earth Day and the 10th anniversary of One Team. There was also plenty of support from the volunteers, who helped make videos that were then posted on social media.

[Panathinaikos Athens:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/panathinaikos-athens-one-team-program/) In partnership with Special Olympics Hellas, the Greens set some strong program objectives and were able to improve on their previous on-court sessions. The team's One Team ambassadors, Paris Lee and Derrick Williams, took a hands-on role when it came to the sessions, while Panathinaikos was supported by its club partners when it came to putting its One Team sessions together. In terms of media coverage, Panathinaikos made sure to write a dedicated piece for each volunteer, as they praised the sacrifice that these individuals have given in order to help the participants.

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).

Nominees for 2022-23 One Team Program Awards revealed

The latest edition of Zalgiris Kaunas's One Team project with the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Day Care Centers has come to a close and all involved have been delighted to see the changes within the participating youth. Among them is Airidas, who claims to not only have grown as a person but also discovered an activity that he loves.

Airidas's success story: How One Team helped him find himself

The latest edition of Zalgiris Kaunas's One Team project with the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Day Care Centers has come to a close and all involved have been delighted to see the changes within the participating youth. Among them is Airidas, who claims to not only have grown as a person but also discovered an activity that he loves.

Airidas's story represents exactly what the project aims for. From a shy and unconfident young man, he has become a role model for his peers in a matter of months and has already seen that effort and hard work pay off.

Airidas learned about the One Team program when he met Egidijus, a representative of the Lithuanian Association of Day Care Centers. At that time, talks had just started between Zalgiris and the association about possible cooperation and ways to help young people find employment, achieve their goals and develop.

When it was decided that the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Day Care Centers would become Zalgiris's social partner for the season, Egidijus started spreading the word about the project and inviting young people to join.

At the time, Airidas was an assistant to his basketball coach and was looking for friends to play basketball with him at different schools. When Airidas visited the youth center, he met Egidijus and they both immediately realized that it was worth joining forces as they both had the same goal.

"I thought it would be very interesting to attend practices in Zalgirio Arena - not everyone has this opportunity," Airidas recalled of his first thoughts about participating in the project.

The changes were particularly evident soon after the project started: "I was shy, afraid to say and do anything. When we played basketball, I joined the activities, I was part of the team, but I didn’t feel good, I was missing something more. I broke out after 3-4 practices when I picked up a camera. Then I started to feel more confident, I wasn’t afraid to speak my mind, I made friends and it wasn’t so scary."

The camera came into Airidas's hands quite by accident, during an event. From that moment on, Airidas brought it to One Team sessions, where he captured his peers and project ambassadors and the emotions of others.

Seeing Airidas's talent and enthusiasm, both Zalgiris Kaunas and the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Day Care Centers encouraged him to film as much as possible, to improve his skills and to learn the subtleties of filming and editing. This is how Airidas not only became a filmmaker for One Team sessions, but also tried his hand at other events, including indoor football competitions.

"He is a great example of how young people change when they become part of a project, discover themselves and get out of their comfort zone. Airidas helps us a lot with his filming skills, his attitude and his willingness to try things out," Gediminas Navickas, one of the coaches in the One Team program and a Zalgiris youth team manager, said.

"This season we have seen a lot of success stories; some children have improved their communication skills and have become team leaders, and some, like Airidas, have discovered activities that they do not only do during the project, but also when they return to their everyday life," added project coordinator Andra Kniukstaite. "Examples like these only serve to further inspire us to continue the project and give young people the opportunity to discover themselves."

Zalgiris Kaunas has been a part of the One Team program since 2013 and has cooperated with a number of organizations. This season’s partner, the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Daycare Centers, aims to integrate children at social risk into society, provide them with employment and ensure their well-being. The club is happy that it was able to contribute to this goal and to provide a space for children to grow and develop.

The Legacy Project is a cooperation between BKT, the 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 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.

One Team’s mission is to use basketball as a tool to achieve social impact in our communities. The Legacy Project is an example of identifying areas, such as Patissia, with a need for better facilities to upgrade the daily life of the residents by promoting sports values like teamwork, healthy habits and social inclusion.

One Team-BKT Legacy Project opens refurbished courts in Athens

The court opening was attended by representatives of Euroleague Basketball, BKT and the City of Athens including Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe; Kimon Stefos, Corporate Partnerships and Licensing Sales Director for Euroleague Basketball; Kostas Bakoyannis, the Mayor of Athens; and Euroleague Basketball Ambassador, Sofoklis Schortsanitis.

"It is a great honour for Euroleague Basketball to be back in Athens to open these new courts in the Patissa district," Stefos said. "These courts are an example of what the One Team – BKT Legacy Project can achieve. We really hope that this refurbishment can be beneficial for the community and we would like to thank BKT once again for supporting us in initiatives like these.”

“BKT's activities go far beyond tire production: we are strongly committed to being alongside people, even in moments of fun, above all through sport,” Salmaso said. “We want to leave our mark, to be recognized as a company that cares about people and the environment. This project in Athens shows that our commitment is real and tangible, that the values we believe in such as inclusion, respect and collaboration can help the community. We are enthusiastic to continue our journey with One Team, in order to add value and make a real contribution to local communities.”

“Adopt your City is a program that fosters community engagement and enhances the overall well-being of Athenians. All sectors of society coming together and actively cooperating towards making Athens a friendlier, more sustainable and resilient city,” Mayor Bakoyannis said. “ I am thus grateful to Euroleague Basketball and BKT for their generous contribution in renovating and revitalizing two beloved basketball courts in the Patissia neighborhood. Athenian children now have two more state-of-the-art sports facilities to have fun and chase their dreams!

"The kids will get an opportunity to play together and have fun together," Schortsanitis said at the event. "I am very happy and I wholeheartedly support this initiative."

The event featured a special 3x3 tournament with special inclusive rules, which stipulate that a player cannot score consecutive baskets and all three players must touch the ball before one can shoot. Eight teams, each consisting of two boys and two girls, from nearby neighborhoods participated in the tournament.

The court refurbishment marks the second edition of the One Team-BKT Legacy Project. Last year, [the first such courts were opened in Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/news/one-team-and-bkt-open-new-courts-in-istanbul/).

**About BKT:**

For more than 30 years, Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT) has successfully focused on specialized segments such as agriculture, construction and industrial, as well as earthmoving, port and mining, ATV and landscaping operations. BKT as a company has managed to focus its attention on people and the planet ahead of business and profit and moves naturally within virtuous business parameters. Every year the company organizes many different international social initiatives and supports the most vulnerable, such as children, and fundraising activities for countries hit by deforestation or by weather-related events.

BKT also aims to put people and their well-being at the center through numerous sport sponsorships and related activations worldwide. BKT shares the One Team ideology and loves sport because it fully reflects its corporate philosophy: fair play, teamwork, respect, commitment, and the importance of sharing. Sport is a powerful tool to act as a vehicle for positive and constructive values, and a global language of emotions, allowing a whole community to grow.

**About One Team:**

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 Patissia neighborhood in central Athens has reasons to celebrate after two refurbished basketball courts were presented on Tuesday through the One Team-BKT Legacy Project. 

Throughout the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, one constant has been the terrific work done by One Team. The Final Four, which this year was in Kaunas, Lithuania, acts as a celebration of basketball for all fans of the EuroLeague, but it also provided an opportunity for a light to be shined on what One Team does and how it impacts communities.

The weekend's events began on Thursday, May 18, with [a One Team session at Kaunas Sport Hall for Final Four volunteers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/news/final-four-volunteers-gather-for-one-team-welcome-session/), in which five stations were set up as they began to take part in the program drills. The purpose of this session was to get the volunteers to understand the goals and methodologies used as part of the One Team program, while also getting them familiar with Final Four ambassadors Joe Arlauckas and Ramunas Siskauskas, as well as the One Team representatives from Zalgiris Kaunas, before the One Team events got underway with the participants.

The next day, Friday, May 19, the public was able to witness One Team for the first time at the 2023 Final Four. During [a session with the Final Four ambassadors](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/one-teams-impact-seen-through-sessions-with-euroleague-stars-final-four-ambassadors-at-fanzone/) – Ramunas Siskauskas, David Rivers, Igor Rakocevic, Jonas Maciulis, Patrick Femerling, and Paulius Jankunas – at the FanZone at Unity Square, fans were able to watch on as the event saw some One Team activities take place, in addition to some 3x3 games. It was not just the Final Four ambassadors present, however, as there were 12 participants from Special Olympics Lithuania who joined in the fun.

Throughout the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, one constant has been the terrific work done by One Team. The Final Four, which this year was in Kaunas, Lithuania, acts as a celebration of basketball for all fans of the EuroLeague, but it also provided an opportunity for a light to be shined on what One Team does and how it impacts communities.

One Team's presence was felt at the 2023 Final Four

"Zalgiris Kaunas is a club that is strongly meshed with the community and through One Team we have found more ways to strengthen that connection with families," Final Four Ambassador and Zalgiris assistant general manager Paulius Jankunas said. "Not only does the One Team program have such a strong positive impact on the participants, but it is also incredibly rewarding for the players, too."

Then, one day later, on Saturday, May 20, [the One Team Ambassadors from the Final Four teams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/one-teams-impact-seen-through-sessions-with-euroleague-stars-final-four-ambassadors-at-fanzone/) – Olympiacos Piraeus's Sasha Vezenkov and Kostas Papanikolaou, AS Monaco's Yakuba Ouattara, Real Madrid's Adam Hanga and FC Barcelona's Oscar da Silva and Oriol Pauli – made the trip down to the FanZone to take part in a session with 12 participants from Zalgiris's One Team program. This event, which was open to the public and the media, saw everyone come together to partake in fun One Team activities. Zalgiris's One Team coaches were once again present and helped lead the session.

On the day of the EuroLeague Championship Game, Euroleague Basketball donated bikes provided by one of its partners, BKT, to local social entities, Save the Children and Special Olympics Lithuania. The goal behind doing this is to promote healthy habits and sustainable mobility, but also to support these local organizations. This donation act took place at the FanZone on Sunday, May 21.

A little later in the day, during halftime of the ANGT Championship Game, Zalgiris's One Team participants appeared on the court at Kaunas Sport Hall and enjoyed a One Team session. This event featured one player from each ANGT team, aside from those competing in the title game. In front of plenty of fans, One Team took center stage during the interval and everyone could see the joy on the participants' faces.

The final activity that One Team held came at the end of the first quarter of the EuroLeague Championship Game, as 12 participants from Zalgiris's One Team program and 12 athletes from Special Olympics Lithuania stepped onto the court at Zalgirio Arena in front of over 15,000 fans. Together with the Final Four ambassadors, they took a photo that will be cherished by these individuals for the rest of their lives.

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.

One Team, Euroleague Basketball's Corporate Social Responsibility program, was front and center at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague FanZone with a pair of sessions that included some of the EuroLeague's biggest stars. 

On Friday, May 19, the afternoon of the EuroLeague Final Four semifinals, a group of Final Four Ambassadors, which included past greats of the game, met athletes from Special Olympics Lithuania at the FanZone main court for a session open to the public. The session was led by Zalgiris Kaunas's One Team coaches with the support of Euroleague Basketball and consisted of several activities focused on life skills, culminating in an animated 3-on-3 inclusive game. 

"Zalgiris Kaunas is a club that is strongly meshed with the community and through One Team we have found more ways to strengthen that connection with families," Final Four Ambassador and Zalgiris assistant general manager Paulius Jankunas said. "Not only does the One Team program have such a strong positive impact on the participants, it is incredibly rewarding for the players, too."

"Events such as these are among the highlights of the Final Four," Final Four Ambassador and Kaunas native Jonas Maciulis added. "It brings me personally great pleasure to see smiles on the faces of these children and I am very proud to be able to take part in it."

The following morning, One Team Ambassadors from the participating Final Four teams congregated at the FanZone for a session with the Zalgiris Kaunas One Team participants. 

“I am very honored to be part of this organization and try to develop and try to give some special moments to these kids," Adam Hanga of Real Madrid said. "I have kids of my own, so I know how important this is. It takes us out of thinking about basketball and thinking about the most important thing in our life, which is the kids, their lives, and how they are going to approach life. And how we can help them. Especially like this today, it can give them a lot of hope and some positive energy. One Team does an incredible job throughout the years."

Together they celebrated the positive impact the One Team continues to have on Euroleague club’s local communities. The sessions saw the One Team Ambassadors take part in several activities and games alongside the local participants. 

"I think this is above everything," concurred EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov of Olympiacos Piraeus. "The last couple of years One Team gave Kostas \[Papanikolaou\] and me an opportunity to have this interaction throughout the season with the kids. I think it is the most important for the kids to have fun, to smile, to find motivation through us and with us, to play this sport and we are very happy to give them this joy and happiness. One Team does a great job, and I am sure it will be even better and better and more and more in the next years."

One Team's impact seen through sessions with EuroLeague stars, Final Four Ambassadors at FanZone 

For many of the volunteers staffing the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, the opening activity was a One Team welcome session at Kaunas Hall opened by the City of Kaunas' Head of Sports, Tadas Vasiliauskas, and Euroleague Basketball's Director of Sustainability, Abigail Martín, thanking all volunteers in advance for the importance of the role they play for the success of the event. Before the Final Four games begin, the volunteers, who hail from across Europe and many other countries around the globe, broke the ice at the One Team session. 

Using the activities that One Team coaches from Zalgiris Kaunas employed during the season, the annual welcome session was a fun and dynamic team-building event, at the same time aiming to raise awareness among the volunteers on the need to help those who are at risk of social exclusion. While building camaraderie ahead of a busy and exciting Final Four weekend, volunteers also learned more about One Team's goals and the positive impact that the program continues to have on the local communities of Euroleague Basketball clubs.

Final Four Ambassadors also took part in the hour-long session on Thursday and helped show appreciation for the efforts of the volunteers.

"Everybody knows what One Team is all about; we try to help as many people as we can," Joe Arlauckas, a Final Four Ambassador, said. "Here in this type of situation, it's an incredible thing what the volunteers do for the tournament. The Final Four is only as good as it can be with the volunteers. The exercises we do here help people get to the next level."

"It's very nice to meet volunteers who are here for a third or fourth time," Ramunas Siskauskas, a former EuroLeague MVP from Lithuania, said. "It's very important to involve all the people and all the communities to become one big family. It's very nice to see people from all over the world come here and they attend the events. I am very glad to be part of One Team and this community. I'm proud and happy for Euroleague that they decided many years ago to start this project."

The volunteers needed only a little bit of instruction to know that One Team was for them, too.

"It was amazing to see some stars who played EuroLeague before and just to know more about how One Team works, the components of it," Egle Stankeviciute, one of the volunteers, said. "I think it's amazing and that everybody should learn more about One Team."

"We are all One Team," said Darius Maciulevicus, another volunteer. "We are all together from the highest level to the lower levels. Whatever time we have, it all adds up to help others and also help ourselves. Giving is a big happiness if you can share."

 Final Four volunteers gather for One Team welcome session  

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce two initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability, mobility, education and emissions impact awareness that will take place at the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Kaunas, Lithuania, from May 18 to 21. The first program is a reforestation campaign and the second is the [Final Four Walking Challenge](https://ftpserver.euroleague.net/general/instructions.pdf), which will also allow locals and visitors to support the reforestation campaign.

As part of the reforestation campaign, Euroleague Basketball aims to plant 15,000 trees in Kaunas. To tip off the campaign, 10,000 trees were already planted by Euroleague Basketball and its partner, #walk15, in the Dubravos Forest last Saturday, May 6. Euroleague Basketball Legend Ramunas Siskauskas and Zalgiris Kaunas Legend Paulius Jankunas actively participated in the planting of the trees. It is estimated that 10,000 new trees will help absorb more than 100 tons of CO2 emitted into the environment each year, while the species of trees being planted will contribute to the needs of the local wildlife.

Final Four Walking Challenge!

The [Final Four Walking Challenge](https://ftpserver.euroleague.net/general/instructions.pdf), which runs throughout Final Four weekend, will ask participants to take at least 10,000 steps on each of the four days. Not only will the extra walking promote sustainable mobility, healthy habits, and emissions reductions, but it will be the source of more trees being planted to reach the goal of 15,000. In addition, participants can win prizes!

Euroleague Basketball will collaborate with the popular Lithuanian app #walk15 on both initiatives. To take part in the [Final Four Walking Challenge](https://ftpserver.euroleague.net/general/instructions.pdf), fans – whether Final Four ticket holders or not – should simply download the free #walk15 app through the [Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/walk15/id1155907677) or [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.walk15.pedometer&gl=ES). Once registered, they can join one of the Final Four teams – AS Monaco, FC Barcelona, Olympiacos Piraeus or Real Madrid – or the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team.

The goal of the challenge is for participants, both as individuals and team members, to achieve the highest number of steps over those four days. The challenge will be open to everyone in the city of Kaunas and abroad. Registration opens on Thursday, May 11. 

To be eligible for the prizes, participants must walk at least 10,000 steps on each day of the challenge. Eligible participants will be included in a raffle for tickets to the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany. There will be additional prizes for the top three walkers from each of the five teams. Euroleague Basketball and its partner, adidas, will also offer on-site prize opportunities for visiting specific locations, including the Adidas Next Generation Tournament at Kaunas Sports Hall and the FanZone at Unity Square, through dedicated routes. The app will also allow the participants to store their steps in a wallet to exchange them for a special Final Four discount of 15% on trains from Vilnius to Kaunas. [See all terms and conditions here](https://ftpserver.euroleague.net/general/TCFinalFourWalkingChallenge.pdf). 

This initiative is being supported by our friends and Final Four collaborators at #walk15, the Lithuanian Forestry Office, Lithuanian train company LTG Link, Kauno autobusai, Zalgiris Kaunas, adidas and the City of Kaunas.