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The Emerald Hoops Programme has been established to help build relationships between the basketball communities in America and Ireland. It will involve a range of initiatives and events that will create opportunities for all strands of the sport to gain memorable sporting and cultural experiences.
Over the initial five years of the programme a series of attractive events will be rolled out to deliver a truely Irish experience for players, coaches, officials, administrators and supporters. The events will encompass tournaments for high school and college teams along with clinics for coaches and officials. Many of the tournaments will be international in nature featuring teams from a range of European countries.
The programme has been established by Basketball Ireland the the national federation for the sport of basketball on the island of Ireland. A challenging set of goals have been established for the Programme. Through this programme along with other initiatives Basketball Ireland seeks to grow and develop all facets of the sport in Ireland.
The programme has been strongly endorsed by the government in Ireland along with the body charged with the development of all sports, the Irish Sports Council.
John Treacy, CEO Irish Sports Council
Ireland has a proud history in terms of the achievement of sporting excellence across a wide variety of sporting codes. The Emerald Hoops programme will provide a wonderful platform to showcase the great skill, passion and athleticism that is at the heart of the game of basketball. The NCAA College basketball scene is one of the top sporting attractions in America and I am really looking forward to welcoming the athletes, coaching staff and alumni to Ireland. In addition to providing all who travel with a unique Irish experience the programme will enable young Irish basketball players and fans to experience the thrill and excitement of top class basketball played by the next generation of American basketball stars.
Tony Colgan, President Basketball Ireland
As President of Basketball Ireland, the national governing body for the sport of Basketball in Ireland, the prospect of top quality American basketball being played in Ireland next year is one that I cherish. In establishing the Emerald Hoops programme the Board of Basketball Ireland recognised that a wonderful opportunity exists to facilitate young American basketball players to perform on an international stage and at the same time to provide them with a unique Irish experience. This programme is designed to provide a memorable sporting and cultural experience for all who travel to Ireland. The excitement generated by these games in the National Basketball Arena will help strengthen the growth of the game in Ireland by enthusing both current and prospective players and supporters.
Emerald Hoops Programme Goals
The Emerald Hoops programme will build on existing relationships and activities to provide a structured programme whose goals are
- To develop sporting, educational and cultural relationships between the basketball communities in Ireland and America
- To provide American basketball players with opportunities to partake in unique Irish experiences in terms of hospitality, culture, history and sport
- To provide the Irish basketball community with opportunities to experience, at first hand, the exuberance, athleticism and skills associated with American basketball
- To develop a range of activities that foster the development of relationships between all sectors of the basketball communities in Ireland and America
- To encourage the youth of Ireland to deliver on their full potential through participation in the growth and development of basketball in Ireland