Basketball NSW is pleased to announce that we will co-host the inaugural Pride Basketball Australia Tournament with Basketball Australia as part of the Sydney WorldPride 2023 Pride Amplified Program from February 22-24 at the Alexandria Basketball Stadium.
The Pride Basketball Australia Tournament is a celebration of inclusivity; it is open to adults of any sexual orientation or gender.
Basketball NSW and Basketball Australia are both proud members of Pride in Sport, and working with the community, we hope to make this an annual event that will be hosted in conjunction with future Mardi Gras events.
Maris Nordstrom, CEO of Basketball NSW, said “Basketball is Everyone’s Game, and we are excited to partner with Basketball Australia in hosting the tournament. We encourage those not just in NSW but from all over Australia to register as a team or individual and play the game we all love”.
Andrew Bondini, President of Spectres Australia, added “It’s Not Just Basketball we are talking about here, It’s A Community which is OUT, PROUD, and VISIBLE.”
“The Pride Basketball Australia Tournament brings the LGBTQ+ and Allies together to celebrate our community, our culture and our diversity.”
“The Pride Basketball Australia Tournament will allow the world to see who we are as we play the game we love. The Pride Basketball Tournament will create positive images of the LGBTQ+ basketball community and role models to those not able to be who they are. “
“This LGBTQ+ Basketball event will change the lives, and communities of many through the love of the game of basketball.”
At this time, we’re simply asking for expressions of interest from teams and individuals (referee, scoretable official or volunteer) interested in participating in this tournament. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) will then keep those individuals up to date on all matters relating to the tournament.
The Pride Basketball Australia Tournament is open to teams from Australia and internationally. Subject to the number of teams, the tournament may be reduced by 1 day.
About World Pride
WorldPride is a global LGBTQIA+ festival that has been staged since 2000, with cities competing to host the event.The right to host it is licensed by InterPride which has representatives from nearly every Pride organisation around the world. Previous WorldPride celebrations include New York in 2019 marking 50 years since the Stonewall uprising, and Copenhagen in 2021 celebrating both WorldPride and the EuroGames.
Sydney was chosen by InterPride members to be the host of WorldPride in 2023, marking the first time a city in the southern hemisphere had been chosen.
Sydney WorldPride will incorporate all the beloved Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events, plus a broad festival offering across arts, sport, theatre, concerts, parties, First Nations programming and a human rights conference.