SUMMER JAM- Basketball Ireland’s integration project

Basketball Ireland “Summer Jam” tips off on July 21st and will run throughout August at a whole host of venues around the country.Summer Jam is aiming to create awareness throughout Ireland of the many different cultures that now call Ireland their home by bringing them together through the positive medium of sport and specifically Basketball.It will place members of different cultures on the same team where they will work together towards a common goal. Basketball is the perfect medium to promote cross-cultural relationships and understanding in modern Irish society.To participate each team must consist of two or three men and at least one woman with one of the participants holding a non-Irish passport.The tournament will take place at seven regional sites spread throughout Ireland and will be split over two divisions- U18 and Senior. Then the top two teams from each region advance to play in the final tournament at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin on August 19th.All Under 18 individuals must get the registration form signed by a parent or guardian and the Under 18 teams agreeing to travel to Dublin must be accompanied by an adult who must sign the registration form.Entrants into the tournament can be done on a team or individual basis with a maximum of 4 players per team.Quick fire 3 v 3 games with the two teams accumulating the most wins during the day competing in the finals where a fantastic cash prize will be on offer to the winning team in each division.Extra excitement will be added to the competition with a 3-point shootout and a dunk contest taking place.In order to promote cultural integration from an early age, boys and girls ages 8-14 will be able to participate in the event at each regional site.Children will go through a skills and drills session to start the day and then go into a cross-cultural education session that will include sampling different foods of various different cultural backgrounds.After the break, each child will be assigned to a team with children from different cultures. A tournament will then take place so that each team plays one another at least once with a champion being declared at the end of the dayA prize will be given to the winners and each child will receive a basketball provided by Basketball Ireland for attending the tournament.The Registration Fees are €30 per team (up to 4 players), €10 for free agents, and €5 for youths.Go to www.basketballireland.ie to download an application.Venue: National Basketball ArenaDates: August 11Times: 13:15 – 17:45 U18 and Senior* Youth Clinic will take place on August 18Regional Development Officer: Dermot HowlinEmail: dhowlin@basketballireland.ieNorth EasternVenue: Dundalk Leisure CenterDates: August 11Times: 10:00 – 15:30 8-14 Year Olds14:30 – 19:00 U18 and SeniorRegional Development Officer: Cathy QuinnEmail: cquinn@basketballireland.ieNorth WesternVenue: Abbey Vocational School Gym, Donegal TownDates: July 28-29Times: July 28 10:00 – 17:00 8-14 Year OldsJuly 29 10:00 – 17:00 U18 and SeniorRegional Development Officer: Michael GilroyEmail: mgilroy@basketballireland.ieWesternVenue: Ballina Sports and Leisure ComplexDates: July 21Times: 10:00 – 15:30 8-14 Year Olds14:30 – 19:00 U18 and SeniorRegional Development Officer: Elaine WilliamsEmail: ewilliams@basketballireland.ieMidlandsVenue: Drum Community Centre and St. Joseph’s College, AthloneDates: July 28Times: 10:00 – 15:30 8-14 Year Olds14:30 – 19:00 U18 and SeniorRegional Development Officer: David DonnellyEmail: ddonnelly@basketballireland.ieNorthernVenue: Lisburn LeisurePlexDates: July 28Times: 10:00 – 15:30 8-14 Year Olds14:30 – 19:00 U18 and SeniorRegional Development Officer: Jim MartinEmail: jmartin@basketballireland.ieSouthernVenue: University of Limerick (UL) ArenaDates: August 4Times: 10:00 – 15:30 8-14 Year Olds14:30 – 19:00 U18 and SeniorRegional Development Officer: Mícheál O’MahonyEmail: momahony@basketballireland.ie