Get ready for the celebration of all things One Team, Euroleague Basketball’s social responsibility program, as the One Team Games take center stage across the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup from January 14 to 17, 2025.
Taking place between Rounds 21 and 22 of the EuroLeague, and Round 15 of the EuroCup, the One Team Games puts the spotlight on the 38 clubs’ communities and the hundreds of participants who are at risk of social exclusion all over Europe. This year’s One Team programs have focused on the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goal 10 by aiming to reduce inequalities in our communities through basketball.
In order to make the games extra special, there will be a number of different activations that take place before and during the 18 EuroLeague contests and 10 EuroCup fixtures.
Prior to tipoff, the One Team participants of the home team will head onto the court for a family picture featuring the One Team Ambassadors from both clubs. One participant from the home team’s One Team program will bring the game ball to the officials before the action gets underway, too.
At halftime, there will be some One Team activities – the type that the participants do on a weekly basis in their One Team sessions – in front of the crowd, who will be there showing support.
Fans in the arena and viewers at home will see special #WeAreAllOneTeam stickers on the EuroLeague and EuroCup teams’ courts during the One Team Games, with Turkish Airlines and BKT – the naming partners of the EuroLeague and EuroCup, respectively – actively supporting the celebration
It is not just on the EuroLeague and EuroCup courts where the #WeAreAllOneTeam hashtag will be prominent, as One Team Ambassadors, players, clubs and fans are all encouraged to participate in the One Team Games by sharing the hashtag on social media. Speaking of which, One Team has launched its own Instagram account in order to raise awareness of the clubs’ One Team programs and giving more visibility to the excellent work conducted by the EuroLeague and EuroCup clubs in their communities. Just like in previous years, there will be a special filter that clubs and One Team Ambassadors are encouraged to use for their social media accounts, too.
Fans can also take part in a special Image Trivia game by scanning a QR code in the arena and also on social media. Those who take part in this game will get to recognize and know more about some of the One Team Ambassadors from this season, while anyone who plays the game will have the chance to win a jersey of their favorite EuroLeague or EuroCup player.
"The One Team Games are an opportunity for all of us to come together to celebrate the excellent work done by the Euroleague Basketball clubs in their One Team programs, while also raising awareness about these at-risk communities and individuals," said Abigail Martin, Director of Sustainability and Development Projects at Euroleague Basketball. "It is fantastic to see the awareness that the One Team Games provide, and especially all of the participants' smiling faces. Only together can we affect positive change. We are so, so thankful for everyone's efforts in making the One Team Games possible."
“One Team bridges gaps by uniting people of different backgrounds and abilities through a shared passion for basketball,” said Olympiacos Piraeus forward and One Team Ambassador Shaquielle McKissic. “By uplifting marginalized groups – like individuals with disabilities and displaced immigrants – it sends a powerful message that no one is alone. I’ve personally witnessed how this sense of belonging and collective responsibility extends far beyond the court.”
“Working with One Team allows us to get closer to our communities and show that we are there to support them, whatever the circumstances,” said Nate Sestina, Valencia Basket forward and One Team Ambassador. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of the people involved in our One Team program, it makes it all worth it. Ultimately, we are all one big family – regardless of background, disability, where we come from – and we are there to help one another. Through One Team, we can make a real difference to these individuals.”
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.