B.B.F. and UNICEF 900 strong basketball camp ends
There was a Grand Youth Rally at the City Center today as a two week basketball camp, held by the Belize Basketball Federation along with UNICEF, came to an end. A total of nine hundred and fifty kids participated in seven individual camps throughout the country and approximately five hundred participated in the final tournament. The camp was the first of its kind, but according to B.B.F. Secretary General, Julian Murrillo, it should become a biannual event in the future.
Julian Murrillo, Secretary General, Belize Basketball Federation
“Our camp is not just about basketball; the camp is about having the kids develop life skills and providing an opportunity to learn team spirit and team work and understanding the importance of adhering to rules and regulations. So the camp is not just about basketball, it’s about personal development. Today’s event is actually a championship as well, where we’re crowning a national championship in the under seventeen age group.”
Delahnie Bain
“How did you enjoy the camp?”
Delwin Guevara, Camp Participant, Cayo District
“It was quite exciting, I learned many things in that camp for those three weeks.”
Delahnie Bain
“Many things like what?”
Delwin Guevara
“Like how to dribble, how to shoot, how to defend and many other things.”
Sovrin Rhaburn, Camp Participant, Belize District
“It was very fun, I love to do the dribbling. Dehn teach we how to shoot up and all of those stuff in basketball.”
Delahnie Bain
“Okay, did you find any of the workouts hard?”
Sovrin Rhaburn
“Yes.”
Julian Murrillo
“The Belize Basketball Federation, we have a strategic plan that covers a four year period and this is the major component of it where we focus on youth development of the sport. We see that as two fold; one, to make sure that we develop the kids athletically in the sport of basketball but also socially. I mean just look at the impact that this camp has had. We’ve taken almost a thousand kids across the country from off the streets and that’s an important thing considering today’s climate; social climate in Belize.”
Throughout the camp, the kids heard from guest speakers on issues of HIV/AIDS, violence, drug use and education among other topics.
