BASKETBALL NSW HOSTS THIRD PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDS OF BASKETBALL

Media Release
Written by Jaylee Ismay
24 March, 2022

Earlier this week, Basketball NSW hosted an exclusive function held at NSW Parliament House, with representatives from the NSW Government celebrating in the third annual Parliamentary Friends of Basketball luncheon.

The group is co-chaired by the Member of Ku-ring-gai Mr Alister Henskens, SC MP and Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch AM who both spoke passionately about the growth of the sport and how excited they were for the upcoming FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022.

The star-studded event also featured Australian Opal, Shyla Heal, Sydney Uni Flames 2021-22 Most Valuable Player, Keely Froling and NSW U20 Women’s Gold Medal winner Chyra Evans who were on hand to discuss the importance of support for females playing sport and the excitement of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup

During the Q&A section of the event, Basketball NSW, CEO, Maria Nordstrom and Sports Scientist Martha Lourey-Bird also talked through the importance of the NSW World Cup Legacy Programs that BNSW are facilitating to grow the game with a number of free activations for girls and indigenous & multicultural youth over the past 12 months and will continue into 2023. 

As part of the festivities of the day, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Trophy and Karla the Mascot were on hand to bring to life the excitement of the Australian Opals playing on home soil later this year. 

Basketball NSW, CEO, Maria Nordstrom said the formation of the group has provided an invaluable opportunity to help grow the game and gather support from members within Parliament to discuss the community benefits of basketball.

“The Parliamentary Friends of Basketball group has provided an informal opportunity to directly meet with politicians to discuss the future growth of the game in New South Wales,” said Nordstrom. 

“With the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup coming to Sydney in September at the forefront of the event, it was a fantastic opportunity to remind our leaders in government that we still need their support in growing the game at the grassroots level, especially for our young females so that one day they can also wear the green and gold and be our future Opals.”

“I would also like to extend our thanks to the NSW Government for their support in our World Cup Legacy Programs which include participation and leadership programs for women and girls as well indigenous and multicultural communities in regional NSW and Western Sydney.”

The Legacy Program is supporting the New South Wales Governments Strategic Focus on women and girls in sport through the ‘Her Sport Her Way’ program and basketballs goal to move towards gender equality.

Special thanks to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Local Organising Committee, Sydney Uni Flames and the City of Sydney Basketball Association for joining us along with all distinguished guests for their attendance.

To learn more about the NSW Legacy Program CLICK HERE