Georgia-US team up to create youth basketball league

The Georgian Basketball Federation has teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) of the United States (US) to establish an exciting new league for children in Georgia.

The new tournament - named Jr.NBA-GBF - will feature players aged 10-12 in a league financed by the US Embassy in Georgia and the US State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The first games of the league will take place at 30 basketball schools in Georgia's capital Tbilisi as well as in seaside city Batumi, in Imereti regional capital Kutaisi, in Gori in central Georgia and in eastern Telavi.

The league will involve competitions for male and female teams representing NBA clubs. Photo from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia/Facebook.

The league will feature competition for male and female teams and represent a Georgian version of an international school-aged tournament, staged by the State Department and NBA in 34 countries around the world.

Teams competing in the Jr.NBA-GBF will represent world-famous NBA clubs such as the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors, and will play in replica kits of senior NBA teams.

As well as regular matches, the junior basketball competition will also feature a camp for young players led by Georgia's celebrated NBA export Zaza Pachulia, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks in the US league.

Young Georgian players received replica kits of senior NBA teams at the tournament’s presentation in Tbilisi. Photo from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia/Facebook.

The Jr.NBA-GBF initiative was unveiled today at Tbilisi's New Sports Palace. Officials from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia, the Georgian Basketball Federation and the US Embassy led the presentation, which was followed by the announcement of the tournament’s first draw.

Organisers said the initiative aimed to develop the basketball skills of Georgian youth, promote the philosophy of being active and healthy, and give real tournament experience to future players, coaches and parents.

The project has been implemented by its US founders since 2005, with 6.5 million children currently involved in the ongoing 2015-2016 Jr.NBA season worldwide.