The seventh edition of the One Team Awards in Barcelona, Spain, has seen Olimpia Milano and a handful of other clubs rewarded for their terrific work with One Team. As a result of its work during the 2022-23 season, Milan secured the One Team Gold Program prize. Elsewhere, Olympiacos Piraeus was selected as the recipient of the One Team Silver Program, while FC Barcelona secured the One Team Bronze Program award.

Olimpia Milano takes home gold at the 2023 One Team Awards

The seventh edition of the One Team Awards in Barcelona, Spain, has seen EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and a handful of other clubs rewarded for their terrific work with One Team. As a result of its work during the 2022-23 season, Milan secured the One Team Gold Program prize. Elsewhere, Olympiacos Piraeus was selected as the recipient of the One Team Silver Program, while FC Barcelona secured the One Team Bronze Program award.

The other prizes on offer include the Judges' Award for Club Commitment and the Judges' Award for Perseverance, which went to Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Dolomiti Energia Trento, respectively. The One Team Ambassador Award was awarded to former Olympiacos forward Sasha Vezenkov.

One Team, Euroleague Basketball's social responsibility program, is now in its 11th year and has been able to count on the support of Turkish Airlines since its inception, in addition to enjoying a long-term partnership with Special Olympics.

Through their One Team programs, all 38 clubs across Europe's two most prestigious basketball club competitions have used the power of basketball to make a difference in their local communities. Last season, many of the teams in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup took their One Team programs to another level, with the clubs all striving to do better year-on-year.

"Thank you all for doing this hard work, I know it requires a lot of energy," said Paulius Motiejunas, Euroleague Basketball CEO. "The challenges are becoming bigger, but you are handling them with greater energy and commitment, so thank you all for doing this hard job. No matter who wins, congratulations to everyone that has been awarded but also to those who were not nominated; I know your impact is enormous on each country that you represent, each city that you represent and each project that you do. For us, it’s an amazing honor to see you doing this."

### Milan's One Team Gold Program triumph

Milan opted to once again partner with Laureus Sport for Good Italia, but new allies were involved in the club's One Team program, too. The Italian side put on awareness sessions to more than 100 participants in a school, while it also put on different events such as One Team Day, auctions and parallel activities relating to its work with One Team. These sessions brought together at-risk youth – children suffering from social, cultural and economic distress, as well as those that may step outside the law – as Milan sought to promote community cohesion through its program.

What's more, Milan's One Team ambassadors from last year – Kyle Hines and Gigi Datome – were a regular presence at the sessions put on by the club. The program's numerous appearances in important Italian media outlets showed the good way in which the club used its communication channels to good effect, too.

"Finally we got \[the One Team Gold Program award\] after a five-year wait; having gone from third place to second place, now we've got it," stated Michele Samaden, Milan's One Team manager. "We are very proud of it. We want to thank our community partner, Laureus, and our commercial partner, Scalo Milano, for supporting us throughout the season. I also want to thank the wonderful One Team organization that helps us every time that we need assistance."

### Olympiacos grabs the One Team Silver Program award

Olympiacos, the recipient of the One Team Gold Program prize in 2021-22 and 2022-23, had great involvement from its ambassadors – Sasha Vezenkov and Kostas Papanikolaou – during last season. Working with 1st Special Elementary School of Agios Dimitrios, which works with children with intellectual disabilities from the region of Athens, the Reds had 39 participants take part in the sessions, of which 25 were new. This was the first time playing basketball for 43% of the group.

The support of its sponsor, as well as different partners, allowed Olympiacos to make its One Team sessions as good as possible. Different events were celebrated as well, such as Earth Day and the 10th anniversary of One Team, while volunteers also had their part to play in the One Team project by offering support and making videos.

"We are so lucky that, as part of our jobs, we can give people and children the opportunity to smile and shine," noted Olympiacos's One Team manager, Penelope Giovanovits. "As part of the One Team program, coaches and volunteers from every club come together to cooperate for something great. This \[One Team Silver Program award\] is a great achievement and it gives us lots of satisfaction."

### Barcelona wins the One Team Bronze Program trophy

 

Through a long-running program between October and June, Barcelona achieved good results during its partnership with the General Directorate of the Juvenile Penitentiary Center (CPJ). There was good engagement throughout from the inmates, who were able to build on the things they had learned in previous sessions and work on values that can help them on their future reintegration into society.

Barca organized a well-structured program that included clear objectives and detailed session plans, making it easier for the participants to understand exactly what they would be doing or learning about.

"This is an award that comes as a result of the hard work that we have been doing throughout the whole season," commented Alex Canals, Barcelona's One Team manager. "It's been very challenging to make the activities as successful as possible, but in the end we got there. We look back on last season's One Team program with a lot of pride."

### Sasha Vezenkov: winner of the One Team Ambassador award

Vezenkov helped guide Olympiacos to the EuroLeague Championship Game in the 2022-23 season, which helped him secure the EuroLeague MVP trophy in the process, but off the court, together with Kostas Papanikolaou, he brought big smiles to the participants of the Reds' One Team program. His great involvement in the sessions, in which he showed interest and curiosity regarding the kids' problems, together with his enthusiasm and energy in all the activities he was involved in, made a big impact on the positive evolution of the participants during the whole year.

The 28-year-old did his all to help where possible, too, such as asking what he can do to aid Olympiacos's One Team efforts with getting donations at Christmas. What's more, he went out of his way to explain the One Team program to his teammates and played a role in arranging for them to visit sessions.

### Bourg lands the Judges’ Award for Club Commitment

One of the keys to Bourg's One Team sessions during last season was the way in which it emphasized the participants' need for independence. Several partners got involved with the program in order to aid the efforts of Bourg, which also had three players from the under-21 side take part in coaching drills for those involved. Throughout various sessions, the impressive management and enthusiastic commitment from Bourg ensured that the program was able to achieve its goals.

 

### The Judges' Award for Perseverance goes to Trento

Trento put together an innovative and challenging One Team program in 2022-23, which involved the club working with inmates aged between 26 and 35. In challenging circumstances, One Team ambassadors Mattia Udom and Toto Forray showed a good level of involvement during the sessions.

There were clear, strong objectives that were set for the participants, which had good links to day-to-day life skills. There were some challenges for those running Trento's One Team program, such as a challenging set of participants and a complicated situation with the social partner as it was a prison, but they persevered and were able to overcome some tricky obstacles.

The winners from the One Team Awards pose with Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas, Turkish Airlines Project Mananger Mehmet Dayioglu and the One Team staff.

Milan takes home gold at the 2023 One Team Awards

Just as so many star players are earnestly preparing for the upcoming season, Euroleague Basketball corporate social responsibility program One Team will hold a two-day training camp this week to assure that the power of basketball continues to be a vehicle for positive change in communities all across Europe.

One Team workshop to tip off ambitious new season of serving communities

Just as so many star players are earnestly preparing for the upcoming season, Euroleague Basketball corporate social responsibility program One Team will hold a two-day training camp this week to assure that the power of basketball continues to be a vehicle for positive change in communities all across Europe.

The 13th One Team Annual Workshop will see representatives from all 38 teams of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup come together in Barcelona on Thursday and Friday to learn, exchange ideas and collaborate as they aim to maximize the effects of their individual club programs going into the 2023-24 season.

New clubs and staff members will be trained with the help of long-time members in a proven One Team methodology that has already impacted tens of thousands of at-risk people from all walks of life – from the physically and mentally disadvantaged to incarcerated youth to victims of natural disasters and many, many more.

All clubs will hear from outside experts representing Futbol Mas, SailGP and think Beyond about the challenges at-risk groups around Europe are facing, particularly those related to inclusion. They will also learn about Euroleague Basketball's sustainability work and the opportunities that exist to expand upon it.

Another highlight of the event will be the announcement of the One Team Awards to acknowledge and celebrate those nominated clubs that took their positive impact on communities furthest last season. There is also an award for the top One Team Ambassador from among the players in every club who take time out to actively deliver benefits to the program participants.

"For more than a decade, our clubs and players have repurposed basketball as a means to inspire, educate and lift up those who need help for countless reasons in diverse settings and cultures," Roser Queralto, Euroleague Basketball's Chief Business Development Officer, said. "The One Team Annual Workshop is a chance not only to thank them for their heartfelt efforts but to tap their growing knowledge to continue bringing transformative experiences to struggling groups among us."

One Team, supported by Turkish Airlines as the One Team Founding Patron and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as Proud Partner, uses basketball to achieve real social impact in our communities. With an innovative model of interconnectedness across an entire continent, Euroleague Basketball and its clubs have developed a complete CSR program that brings together activities from each team in an integrated, impactful way, working under the theme of "community integration" that actively addresses targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities.

Playing sport while having a disability is full of different difficulties, but for Manuel, a 23-year-old from Bologna, his love for basketball went to new heights thanks to the work of Virtus Bologna and its One Team program. While he had encountered problems when playing wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis, the sport of Baskin suited him to a T – and Virtus's One Team sessions helped bring out the best parts of Manuel's personality.

Playing sport while having a disability is full of different difficulties, but for Manuel, a 23-year-old from Bologna, his love for basketball went to new heights thanks to the work of Virtus Segafredo Bologna and its One Team program. While he had encountered problems when playing wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis, the sport of Baskin suited him to a T – and Virtus's One Team sessions helped bring out the best parts of Manuel's personality.

First of all, perhaps it is important to explain Baskin a little. Baskin is a very inclusive sport in which players with no disability are able to play alongside people with different levels of issues, thanks to a series of specific rules that ensure everyone involved can take part and try to win.

As a big fan of Virtus and someone who picked up Baskin at 22, Manuel was naturally very excited to join the Italian club's One Team program. Playing at center for PGS Welcome Baskin Bologna, where he is one of the team's main scorers, he found a sport in Baskin that made him feel comfortable as it brings together many different people with different conditions.

Through One Team, Manuel saw his dream come true as he scored a basket in front of 9,000 people at Virtus Segafredo Arena during halftime of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game between Virtus and FC Barcelona. In fact, Manuel was taken aback by the chance to score a basket in front of his fellow Virtus supporters; so much so that he didn’t even remember what happened in the first half and later cried with happiness for two days.

There were several key learning moments for Manuel during the One Team program, such as acting as a Baskin teacher to Virtus and Magika Pallacanestro's youth-team players. He also had a special conversation with Virtus's One Team ambassador last season, Kyle Weems, who was taught the rules of Baskin by Manuel. Fellow Virtus player Daniel Hackett was another who was able to discover the incredible sport of Baskin.

After speaking with the likes of Weems and Hackett, Manuel was able to see his basketball idols as normal people who have their own strengths and difficulties. What's more, by playing Baskin with players from Virtus and Magika's youth setup, Manuel hopes that they now understand the importance of inclusion both on and off the court.

Prior to his experience with One Team, Manuel felt anxious when preparing to play a game of Baskin. However, it didn’t take long for him to understand the importance of focusing on doing his best to help his team. Baskin may have been part of Manuel's life prior to One Team, but Virtus's project helped him – and the others – feel a sense of togetherness, which in turn aided their growth as individuals.

One of the main things that helped Manuel and the group get a better understanding of themselves were the sit-down chats that the One Team participants had following the Baskin sessions. There, they would discuss what happened on the court in a calm, tranquil manner.

PGS Welcome Baskin Bologna, Virtus and Magika all worked in unison throughout the One Team program, with all three teams now cheering each other on whenever they have games. Manuel was able to complete one of his dreams thanks to Virtus and One Team, and it is an experience that he will never forget.

Virtus's success story: Manuel saw his dream come true

For kids growing up in the district of Gratosoglio in the Italian city of Milan, it is not always easy to find a safe haven to socialize. Yet, thanks to Olimpia Milano and its One Team project, children that otherwise would have been forgotten about have been given an opportunity to develop themselves as individuals. Here, we discuss the success stories of three children involved in Milano's One Team sessions in the 2022-23 season: Emma, Josuè and Sama.

Olimpia Milano's success stories: The power of basketball

For kids growing up in the district of Gratosoglio in the Italian city of Milan, it is not always easy to find a safe haven to socialize. Yet, thanks to EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and its One Team project, children that otherwise would have been forgotten about have been given an opportunity to develop themselves as individuals. Here, we discuss the success stories of three children involved in Milan's One Team sessions in the 2022-23 season: Emma, Josuè and Sama.

In the case of Emma, she joined Milan's One Team program late, coming along for the first time during the third session, but it didn’t take long for her to come out of her shell. After all, she had only agreed to take part as she wanted to be close to her friend Martina, who is a big Milan fan.

Emma typically struggled to deal with her insecurities in the past, but she nevertheless joined in with one of the group activities and, just like that, she felt at home. Despite initially appearing a little lost, she soon started to display the traits of her personality that had previously not been on show. Emma discovered her value as a girl and also as a player, and she came away from the One Team sessions with unforgettable memories, all thanks to getting out of her comfort zone.

Josuè, meanwhile, has a different story. His family was dealing with financial difficulties, yet with the help of the Arcadia Institute in Gratosoglio, he could keep his basketball dream alive. He was able to meet the Milan players and listened intently when they dished out any advice, while the sport of basketball proved to be the perfect way for him to overcome his shyness.

Josuè initially joined Milan's One Team project in 2019 and, despite fearing that he would fail even the simplest of tasks, he now takes everything in his stride. In fact, Josuè has become a reference for many of the individuals who take part in Milan's One Team program, as he is the first to arrive at the gym and has assumed a leadership role among the participants, offering advice – on and off the court – and guiding the others. From his cocoon, he has turned into a butterfly, thanks in large part to the work done as part of the One Team sessions.

Last but not least, Sama. She often felt different to many people around her due to the fact that she wears a hijab, but during the One Team sessions, she was just another member of the group. As the sessions went on, Sama grew and grew in confidence, which resulted in her personality flourishing as a result. She was not afraid to let her opinions be known, too.

Sama regularly displayed her leadership on the court, resulting in her teammates being inspired to follow her advice and desire. She always arrived at the gym with a twinkle in her eyes, and she couldn't wait to get started. Sama may at times feel different to others due to her hijab, but she is also different for another reason – she is a leader, something she discovered thanks to the One Team sessions.

For Emma, Josuè and Sama, they were able to overcome their individual obstacles and take a big leap forward as people, with Milan's One Team program helping them to make big changes in their lives. Thanks to the emphasis placed on problem solving, communication and managing emotions by Milan's One Team coaches, they were successfully able to support Emma, Josuè and Sama. Not only did Milan use the sport of basketball to bring everyone together, but it also used positive language while playing to help enhance the participants' self-esteem and self-efficacy.

The cases of Emma, Josuè and Sama are another set of success stories that have come from One Team, Euroleague Basketball's corporate social responsibility program, supported by Turkish Airlines and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as a proud partner. This past season, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan worked with community partner Laureus Sport for Good Italia for the fifth year in a row, securing a nomination for the 2022-23 One Team Program Awards in the process.

Milan's success stories: The power of basketball

We see thanks to One Team how the sport of basketball can change the lives of individuals, and that was the case for 10-year-old Aida, who was part of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz's program in the 2022-23 season. Every Tuesday, Aida would make sure to attend the One Team sessions put on by Baskonia, even though she felt very shy and somewhat afraid of how she might be received by the others.

Aida's success story: How she came out of her shell thanks to One Team

We see thanks to One Team how the sport of basketball can change the lives of individuals, and that was the case for 10-year-old Aida, who was part of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz's program in the 2022-23 season. Every Tuesday, Aida would make sure to attend the One Team sessions put on by Baskonia, even though she felt very shy and somewhat afraid of how she might be received by the others.

Baskonia, as it did with the other participants involved in its One Team program, made sure to try and make Aida feel as comfortable. One of the ways in which the club was able to help her was by encouraging her to loosen up a little bit, with the help of her mother, the One Team coach and the social integrator.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🎙️ Al habla, Aída, Samuel y Babacar en la rueda de prensa de <a href="https://twitter.com/OTEuroleague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OTEuroleague</a> 🔝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreAllOneTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreAllOneTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/2EEtIto0I2">pic.twitter.com/2EEtIto0I2</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1636057420936912896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As the weeks went by, Aida's confidence continued to grow and grow. Not only did she become more assured in herself, but she also positively affected the others, helping her teammates where possible. In fact, thanks to her blossoming personality, Aida was able to bring a sense of calmness and tranquility to the group, particularly those who are more active or require more attention. She was also not afraid to step in at times to quickly calm things down if any tension ever spilled over, which was another sign of her growth as part of the program.

"The way she addresses us is always sweet and with very good manners," said Dorleta de la Presa, Baskonia's One Team manager. "Something significant is that we have never had to call her up on any bad behaviors or comments. Aida is one of the participants from the press conference we gave for the One Team Games, and we have to say that her mother was very excited to see her. She is enormously grateful for the opportunity we have given her daughter."

All in all, she helped make the Baskonia One Team leaders' lives easier thanks to taking on the role of a young leader inside the group. Aida joined the program initially because her best friend was playing there, but along the way, she developed her intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, which allowed her to finish the program in a far better position than when she had started. This is yet another success story that has come from One Team, Euroleague Basketball's corporate social responsibility program, supported by Turkish Airlines and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as a proud partner.

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz has been a part of the One Team program for many years and has cooperated with a number of organizations. This season’s partner, Gizarterako Association, focuses on social integration in the region, as the club’s 5+11 Foundation works on the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits with local boys and girls. The club is happy that it was able to contribute to this goal and to provide a space for children to grow and develop.

Ever since its founding in 2012, One Team has been proudly supported by all of the clubs competing under the Euroleague Basketball umbrella. Each year, the teams in both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup find a way to take their programs to the next level, and the One Team Program Awards is a great way for these clubs to be recognized for the outstanding work they are doing in their communities.

One Team Program Awards short list announced

Ever since its founding in 2012, One Team has been proudly supported by all of the clubs competing under the Euroleague Basketball umbrella. Each year, the teams in both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup find a way to take their programs to the next level, and the One Team Program Awards is a great way for these clubs to be recognized for the outstanding work they are doing in their communities.

Just like last year, there will be three prizes up for grabs: the awards for the One Team Gold Program, the One Team Silver Program and the One Team Bronze Program. The winners will be announced during the One Team Annual Workshop.

The judging process for the 2022-23 One Team Program Awards will also include thinkBeyond, a social impact and sustainability consultancy that supports leaders and organizations to make a positive impact on the world. The clubs will be evaluated on their One Team program planning and delivery, the involvement of ambassadors during the sessions, the marketing and communications activities that were implemented, and also the involvement of commercial partners.

"We are delighted that the clubs from both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup have continued their fantastic work when it comes to One Team, and particularly the way they are making a positive contribution to their local communities," said Roser Queralto, Euroleague Basketball's Chief Business Development Officer. "Over the course of the 2022-23 season, the One Team participants were able to benefit from the sessions put on by the clubs in many different countries, so I would like to express my gratitude and congratulate everyone involved in this year’s programs for their huge efforts and the great results achieved, especially to the eight teams who were deemed to have gone above and beyond."

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/anadolu-efes-istanbul-one-team-program/) The Turkish club worked alongside Hayal Gucu Merkezi and ANKA Sports Club for its One Team project last season. Throughout the year, Efes made sure to shine a bright light on its program by including a media partner, which ensured the maximum possible visibility in terms of digital platforms. The club's partners were there to support the project, too, while Efes ambassador Erten Gazi was regularly involved throughout the sessions. There was also an educational aspect to the program, as those involved learned about the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/cazoo-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-one-team-program/) Once again, the Spanish club partnered with Gizarterako Association for its One Team program during the 2022-23 season – and once again it has been shortlisted for the One Team Program Awards, having secured the One Team Bronze Program trophy last season. As has been the case in previous years, the partners and volunteers were heavily involved with the participants, while Baskonia did an excellent job of monitoring and evaluating those partaking in its One Team project. The club also put on fundraising events at Buesa Arena involving the children and their parents. Baskonia was a reference in terms of enjoyable drills for the participants, too.

[Dolomiti Energia Trento:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/dolomiti-energia-trento-one-team-program/) One of the two BKT EuroCup clubs nominated for this award, the Italian side had a partnership with the Spini di Gardolo Detention Center throughout last season. It was a challenging program in many ways, but what it demonstrated is a great example when it comes to overcoming difficulties. The program was able to grow in popularity as participants were able to bring along friends, which subsequently led to more people getting involved thanks to word of mouth. There were good drills implemented by Trento's One Team coaches, with strong objectives that were linked to life skills.

[EA7 Emporio Armani Milan:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-one-team-program/) Together with Laureus Sport for Good Italia, the same organization Milan paired with last season and received a nomination for the One Team Program Awards, the Italian club was able to put on awareness sessions for more than 100 participants. This not only created a big impact on the school but also in the local media, with 22 articles being written about the project. One of the ways that Milan was able to create further growth with local partnerships was by setting up different events, such as auctions and activities around its One Team program. What's more, Milan's One Team ambassadors, Kyle Hines and Gigi Datome, regularly demonstrated their commitment to the program by attending sessions.

[FC Barcelona:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/fc-barcelona-one-team-program/) The Spanish club partnered with its foundation and the General Directorate of the Juvenile Penitentiary Center to create a well-structured program, which included clear objectives and detailed session plans. Although 57% of the participants had never played basketball before, Barca was able to achieve good levels of engagement from the inmates. The One Team leaders had learnt from their previous projects, too, by increasing the time of the sessions and widening the scope of those who are able to take part. By the end of the program, Barca was able to see some strong survey results and discover a powerful story about a participant's change thanks to One Team.

[Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-one-team-program/) One year on from being selected as one of the finalists for the One Team Program Awards, Bourg is once again in contention following its new partnership with Adapei de l'Ain. In addition to excellently planning the sessions and putting in place a structured program, Bourg's One Team leaders set some strong objectives relating to the ways in which the participants could increase their level of independence. There was engagement from several partners through the sessions to aid the delivery of the program, and those individuals taking part also had a chance to learn more about nutrition as an additional educational session. Bourg regularly posted clips of its One Team sessions on social media as well, which helped keep fans up to date with the program.

[Olympiacos Piraeus:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/olympiacos-piraeus-one-team-program/) The winner of the One Team Gold Program award in each of the last two years, the Reds once again paired with the 1st Special Elementary School of Agios Dimitrios to deliver its One Team program. The club's One Team ambassadors, Sasha Vezenkov and Kostas Papanikolaou, were a constant presence throughout the sessions, while there was also a strong endorsement from the school, which was the social partner. Olympiacos was able to put on different events thanks to the support of its sponsors and partners, with special celebrations for Earth Day and the 10th anniversary of One Team. There was also plenty of support from the volunteers, who helped make videos that were then posted on social media.

[Panathinaikos Athens:](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/panathinaikos-athens-one-team-program/) In partnership with Special Olympics Hellas, the Greens set some strong program objectives and were able to improve on their previous on-court sessions. The team's One Team ambassadors, Paris Lee and Derrick Williams, took a hands-on role when it came to the sessions, while Panathinaikos was supported by its club partners when it came to putting its One Team sessions together. In terms of media coverage, Panathinaikos made sure to write a dedicated piece for each volunteer, as they praised the sacrifice that these individuals have given in order to help the participants.

One Team, supported by Turkish Airlines as the One Team Founding Patron and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as Proud Partner, uses basketball to achieve real social impact in our communities.

With an innovative model of interconnectedness across an entire continent, Euroleague Basketball and its clubs have developed a complete CSR program that brings together activities from each team in an integrated, impactful way, working under the theme of "community integration" that actively addresses targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 (on reduced inequalities).

Nominees for 2022-23 One Team Program Awards revealed

The latest edition of Zalgiris Kaunas's One Team project with the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Day Care Centers has come to a close and all involved have been delighted to see the changes within the participating youth. Among them is Airidas, who claims to not only have grown as a person but also discovered an activity that he loves.

Airidas's success story: How One Team helped him find himself

The latest edition of Zalgiris Kaunas's One Team project with the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Day Care Centers has come to a close and all involved have been delighted to see the changes within the participating youth. Among them is Airidas, who claims to not only have grown as a person but also discovered an activity that he loves.

Airidas's story represents exactly what the project aims for. From a shy and unconfident young man, he has become a role model for his peers in a matter of months and has already seen that effort and hard work pay off.

Airidas learned about the One Team program when he met Egidijus, a representative of the Lithuanian Association of Day Care Centers. At that time, talks had just started between Zalgiris and the association about possible cooperation and ways to help young people find employment, achieve their goals and develop.

When it was decided that the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Day Care Centers would become Zalgiris's social partner for the season, Egidijus started spreading the word about the project and inviting young people to join.

At the time, Airidas was an assistant to his basketball coach and was looking for friends to play basketball with him at different schools. When Airidas visited the youth center, he met Egidijus and they both immediately realized that it was worth joining forces as they both had the same goal.

"I thought it would be very interesting to attend practices in Zalgirio Arena - not everyone has this opportunity," Airidas recalled of his first thoughts about participating in the project.

The changes were particularly evident soon after the project started: "I was shy, afraid to say and do anything. When we played basketball, I joined the activities, I was part of the team, but I didn’t feel good, I was missing something more. I broke out after 3-4 practices when I picked up a camera. Then I started to feel more confident, I wasn’t afraid to speak my mind, I made friends and it wasn’t so scary."

The camera came into Airidas's hands quite by accident, during an event. From that moment on, Airidas brought it to One Team sessions, where he captured his peers and project ambassadors and the emotions of others.

Seeing Airidas's talent and enthusiasm, both Zalgiris Kaunas and the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Day Care Centers encouraged him to film as much as possible, to improve his skills and to learn the subtleties of filming and editing. This is how Airidas not only became a filmmaker for One Team sessions, but also tried his hand at other events, including indoor football competitions.

"He is a great example of how young people change when they become part of a project, discover themselves and get out of their comfort zone. Airidas helps us a lot with his filming skills, his attitude and his willingness to try things out," Gediminas Navickas, one of the coaches in the One Team program and a Zalgiris youth team manager, said.

"This season we have seen a lot of success stories; some children have improved their communication skills and have become team leaders, and some, like Airidas, have discovered activities that they do not only do during the project, but also when they return to their everyday life," added project coordinator Andra Kniukstaite. "Examples like these only serve to further inspire us to continue the project and give young people the opportunity to discover themselves."

Zalgiris Kaunas has been a part of the One Team program since 2013 and has cooperated with a number of organizations. This season’s partner, the Lithuanian Association of Children’s Daycare Centers, aims to integrate children at social risk into society, provide them with employment and ensure their well-being. The club is happy that it was able to contribute to this goal and to provide a space for children to grow and develop.

The Legacy Project is a cooperation between BKT, the Indian multinational company that specializes in the production of Off-Highway tires, and Euroleague Basketball’s Corporate Social Responsibility program, One Team, together with its Founding Patron Turkish Airlines and with the support of the Athens Municipality through its “Adopt your City” program. The goal of the Legacy Project is to improve the lives of youngsters and people in need or at risk of exclusion by providing better facilities to play basketball.

One Team’s mission is to use basketball as a tool to achieve social impact in our communities. The Legacy Project is an example of identifying areas, such as Patissia, with a need for better facilities to upgrade the daily life of the residents by promoting sports values like teamwork, healthy habits and social inclusion.

One Team-BKT Legacy Project opens refurbished courts in Athens

The court opening was attended by representatives of Euroleague Basketball, BKT and the City of Athens including Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe; Kimon Stefos, Corporate Partnerships and Licensing Sales Director for Euroleague Basketball; Kostas Bakoyannis, the Mayor of Athens; and Euroleague Basketball Ambassador, Sofoklis Schortsanitis.

"It is a great honour for Euroleague Basketball to be back in Athens to open these new courts in the Patissa district," Stefos said. "These courts are an example of what the One Team – BKT Legacy Project can achieve. We really hope that this refurbishment can be beneficial for the community and we would like to thank BKT once again for supporting us in initiatives like these.”

“BKT's activities go far beyond tire production: we are strongly committed to being alongside people, even in moments of fun, above all through sport,” Salmaso said. “We want to leave our mark, to be recognized as a company that cares about people and the environment. This project in Athens shows that our commitment is real and tangible, that the values we believe in such as inclusion, respect and collaboration can help the community. We are enthusiastic to continue our journey with One Team, in order to add value and make a real contribution to local communities.”

“Adopt your City is a program that fosters community engagement and enhances the overall well-being of Athenians. All sectors of society coming together and actively cooperating towards making Athens a friendlier, more sustainable and resilient city,” Mayor Bakoyannis said. “ I am thus grateful to Euroleague Basketball and BKT for their generous contribution in renovating and revitalizing two beloved basketball courts in the Patissia neighborhood. Athenian children now have two more state-of-the-art sports facilities to have fun and chase their dreams!

"The kids will get an opportunity to play together and have fun together," Schortsanitis said at the event. "I am very happy and I wholeheartedly support this initiative."

The event featured a special 3x3 tournament with special inclusive rules, which stipulate that a player cannot score consecutive baskets and all three players must touch the ball before one can shoot. Eight teams, each consisting of two boys and two girls, from nearby neighborhoods participated in the tournament.

The court refurbishment marks the second edition of the One Team-BKT Legacy Project. Last year, [the first such courts were opened in Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/news/one-team-and-bkt-open-new-courts-in-istanbul/).

**About BKT:**

For more than 30 years, Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT) has successfully focused on specialized segments such as agriculture, construction and industrial, as well as earthmoving, port and mining, ATV and landscaping operations. BKT as a company has managed to focus its attention on people and the planet ahead of business and profit and moves naturally within virtuous business parameters. Every year the company organizes many different international social initiatives and supports the most vulnerable, such as children, and fundraising activities for countries hit by deforestation or by weather-related events.

BKT also aims to put people and their well-being at the center through numerous sport sponsorships and related activations worldwide. BKT shares the One Team ideology and loves sport because it fully reflects its corporate philosophy: fair play, teamwork, respect, commitment, and the importance of sharing. Sport is a powerful tool to act as a vehicle for positive and constructive values, and a global language of emotions, allowing a whole community to grow.

**About One Team:**

One Team, supported by Turkish Airlines as the One Team Founding Patron and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as Proud Partner, uses basketball to achieve real social impact in our communities.

With an innovative model of interconnectedness across an entire continent, Euroleague Basketball and its clubs have developed a complete CSR program that brings together activities from each team in an integrated, impactful way, working under the theme of "community integration" that actively addresses targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 (on reduced inequalities).

The Patissia neighborhood in central Athens has reasons to celebrate after two refurbished basketball courts were presented on Tuesday through the One Team-BKT Legacy Project. 

Throughout the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, one constant has been the terrific work done by One Team. The Final Four, which this year was in Kaunas, Lithuania, acts as a celebration of basketball for all fans of the EuroLeague, but it also provided an opportunity for a light to be shined on what One Team does and how it impacts communities.

The weekend's events began on Thursday, May 18, with [a One Team session at Kaunas Sport Hall for Final Four volunteers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/one-team/news/final-four-volunteers-gather-for-one-team-welcome-session/), in which five stations were set up as they began to take part in the program drills. The purpose of this session was to get the volunteers to understand the goals and methodologies used as part of the One Team program, while also getting them familiar with Final Four ambassadors Joe Arlauckas and Ramunas Siskauskas, as well as the One Team representatives from Zalgiris Kaunas, before the One Team events got underway with the participants.

The next day, Friday, May 19, the public was able to witness One Team for the first time at the 2023 Final Four. During [a session with the Final Four ambassadors](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/one-teams-impact-seen-through-sessions-with-euroleague-stars-final-four-ambassadors-at-fanzone/) – Ramunas Siskauskas, David Rivers, Igor Rakocevic, Jonas Maciulis, Patrick Femerling, and Paulius Jankunas – at the FanZone at Unity Square, fans were able to watch on as the event saw some One Team activities take place, in addition to some 3x3 games. It was not just the Final Four ambassadors present, however, as there were 12 participants from Special Olympics Lithuania who joined in the fun.

Throughout the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, one constant has been the terrific work done by One Team. The Final Four, which this year was in Kaunas, Lithuania, acts as a celebration of basketball for all fans of the EuroLeague, but it also provided an opportunity for a light to be shined on what One Team does and how it impacts communities.

One Team's presence was felt at the 2023 Final Four

"Zalgiris Kaunas is a club that is strongly meshed with the community and through One Team we have found more ways to strengthen that connection with families," Final Four Ambassador and Zalgiris assistant general manager Paulius Jankunas said. "Not only does the One Team program have such a strong positive impact on the participants, but it is also incredibly rewarding for the players, too."

Then, one day later, on Saturday, May 20, [the One Team Ambassadors from the Final Four teams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/one-teams-impact-seen-through-sessions-with-euroleague-stars-final-four-ambassadors-at-fanzone/) – Olympiacos Piraeus's Sasha Vezenkov and Kostas Papanikolaou, AS Monaco's Yakuba Ouattara, Real Madrid's Adam Hanga and FC Barcelona's Oscar da Silva and Oriol Pauli – made the trip down to the FanZone to take part in a session with 12 participants from Zalgiris's One Team program. This event, which was open to the public and the media, saw everyone come together to partake in fun One Team activities. Zalgiris's One Team coaches were once again present and helped lead the session.

On the day of the EuroLeague Championship Game, Euroleague Basketball donated bikes provided by one of its partners, BKT, to local social entities, Save the Children and Special Olympics Lithuania. The goal behind doing this is to promote healthy habits and sustainable mobility, but also to support these local organizations. This donation act took place at the FanZone on Sunday, May 21.

A little later in the day, during halftime of the ANGT Championship Game, Zalgiris's One Team participants appeared on the court at Kaunas Sport Hall and enjoyed a One Team session. This event featured one player from each ANGT team, aside from those competing in the title game. In front of plenty of fans, One Team took center stage during the interval and everyone could see the joy on the participants' faces.

The final activity that One Team held came at the end of the first quarter of the EuroLeague Championship Game, as 12 participants from Zalgiris's One Team program and 12 athletes from Special Olympics Lithuania stepped onto the court at Zalgirio Arena in front of over 15,000 fans. Together with the Final Four ambassadors, they took a photo that will be cherished by these individuals for the rest of their lives.

One Team, supported by Turkish Airlines as the One Team Founding Patron and with the collaboration of Special Olympics as Proud Partner, uses basketball to achieve real social impact in our communities. With an innovative model of interconnectedness across an entire continent, Euroleague Basketball and its clubs have developed a complete CSR program that brings together activities from each team in an integrated, impactful way, working under the theme of "community integration" that actively addresses targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities.