The NBL and Champion celebrate pride with a basketball display
The National Basketball League and Champion are celebrating next year’s Champion Pride Round with a ‘PRIDE’ display made up of Spalding-donated basketballs.
The announcement:
Long-time partners Champion and the National Basketball League (NBL) will unite on Sunday, 19 November at Melbourne’s Grand Slam Oval to celebrate the return of the 2024 Champion Pride Round with an Australian-first ‘PRIDE’ display made entirely from basketballs, donated by Spalding.
The global streetwear brand, born from sport, and the nation’s premier basketball league will join forces with Spalding and community partners, Pride in Sport and Queer Sporting Alliance, to spell out the word ‘PRIDE’ with 1,300 basketballs. The activation will solidify both organisations’ LGBTIQA+ allyship and ongoing commitment to making sport more inclusive for all. Basketball fans will be invited to make history by supporting the build of the larger-than-life exhibit on their commute to John Cain Arena to watch Melbourne United take on 2023 champions, the Sydney Kings in Round 8.
Kicking off at 2pm, the extraordinary afternoon will be MC’d by the nation’s first non-binary TV host, Brihony Dawson (they/them), with a special appearance from South East Melbourne Phoenix forward and Champion Pride Round ambassador, Mitch Creek (he/him). The atmosphere will be buzzing with music, Q&As and prizes from Champion. Following the activation, the majority of Spalding basketballs will be donated to local LGBTIQA+ and community organisations including Pride in Sport and Queer Sporting Alliance.
“The Hungry Jack’s NBL prides itself on celebrating inclusion, diversity and the LGBTQ community, and we are delighted to join forces with Champion to bring this impactful, important, meaningful, and exciting initiative to life. The strong celebration and visual support of Pride emphasises our commitment to making the NBL a safe, healthy, and accessible environment for all,” said David Stevenson (he/him), chief executive officer of the NBL.
“Everyone is welcome at the NBL, and we will always look for ways to ensure our League is a space where everyone feels comfortable, without fear of judgement or discrimination. We encourage everyone coming to the Melbourne v Sydney game to check out the Pride celebrations, while fans who can’t attend will be able to support via the broadcast. We also look forward to hosting our second Pride Round in January,” Stevenson added.
“We’re thrilled to partner with like-minded, value-driven organisations that advocate and support Pride in play across the Australian sporting industry. As a global brand born from sport, Champion is on a mission to make sport an inclusive and accessible place for everyone to participate and enjoy. We look forward to celebrating the upcoming 2024 NBL Champion Pride Round with this activation and continuing to be loud and proud allies to the LGBTIQA+ community on and off the court,” said Sarah Flynn (she/her), general manager of Champion Australia and New Zealand.
A recent survey from Pride in Sport stated the impact of inclusion initiatives cannot be underestimated with 68.2% of respondents reporting their experience in sport has been positively impacted by having active and visible allies*
“Visible and meaningful demonstrations of LGBTIQA+ allyship have the power to change lives for the better. Queer Sporting Alliance is excited to witness the second year of the NBL Champion Pride Round. We are grateful for the continued support of Champion and the NBL,” said Stella Lesic (they/them), president of Queer Sporting Alliance.
“NBL’s Champion Pride Round is an incredible opportunity for basketball in Australia to help unite communities, inspire individuals, and foster a sense of belonging. LGBTQ inclusion in sport not only enriches the overall experience for everyone involved, but also strengthens our communities and the broader sense of togetherness and acceptance across the country. Holding the NBL Champion Pride Round is a powerful message to Australia that everyone is welcome in sport, fans and athletes alike, no matter who they are,” said Beau Newell (he/they), national program manager at Pride in Sport.
The NBL Champion Pride Round is set to occur during Round 16, from Wednesday 17 until Sunday 21, January 2024. Notably, clubs without a home game in Round 16 will participate in Rounds 17 and 18. All courts will display Champion’s Pride Progress Flag x ‘C’ logo and players may choose to wear jerseys featuring that same logo. In addition, players, coaches, and staff have had the opportunity to participate in LGBTQ awareness training. Tickets are on sale now.
The Slam Dunk for Inclusivity activation will run from 2pm until 4pm on Sunday 19, November 2023 at Grand Slam Oval, in front of John Cain Arena. Participation is free!
*PIS Survey Key Insights, 2023, p14.
Source: Tide Communications
