Red Card at Basketball Ireland National Cup Final Weekend

This Sunday sees the climax of the season for Basketball Ireland as UCC Demons play it out with the Abrakebabra Tralee Tigers for the Men’s Superleague National Cup Final in a feast of top class games from the best of Basketball Ireland.Basketball Ireland will also be joining forces to Show Racism the Red Card as the sporting body is to come to a partnership agreement with the charity which harnesses the role of sport for education and integration. Show Racism the Red Card has been successful in its application for a grant of €94,750 as part of the Fund to support the Integration of Legally Resident Immigrants in Ireland provided by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and administered by POBAL. It will be appointing a full-time co-ordinator shortly. In the coming year, it will be producing education material and working to promote the integration of immigrants through sport. Basketball has the highest number of participants of any sport in Ireland, after GAA and soccer. It is particularly popular in many of the countries from where a large number of immigrants to Ireland. Basketball represents a powerful vehicle in the promotion of integration and Ireland’s burgeoning immigrant population represent a new audience of supporters and participants and part of the future.The partnership of Basketball Ireland and Show Racism the Red Card will see the two organisations agree to work together strategically to demonstrate a strong stance against racism and towards the promotion of participation of people of all cultures within the sport.Basketball Ireland is one of several organisations alongside the FAI, Gaelic Players Association, Professional Footballers Association of Ireland together with teachers, youth and community workers and migrant organisations to join the recently formed management committee of Show Racism the Red Card Ireland.www.basketballireland.ie