Basketball New Zealand

FIBA World Championship for Men logo

Two lucky teenage basketball fans have been selected by Basketball New Zealand to take part in the Children Of The World Camp in Istanbul, Turkey.

Stacey Dennison from Alexandra and Whetuaroha Simmons of Hamilton will join 400 young players and 200 coaches from nations as far a field as Macedonia, Cayman Islands and Cameroon at the event, held in conjunction with the FIBA World Championship for Men.

The pair were chosen to represent New Zealand after writing an essays on why they would be good candidates for the trip. Dunedin’s Blake Moore has also been picked as a coach after serving as an apprentice with the NZ U16 men’s team.

Stacey attends Dunstan High School and is a keen basketballer, having played for the Central Otago U15 and U17 teams. She is also very active in athletics and netball, and is keen to learn off top coaches from around the world.

She had initially told her parents she wanted to attend the world championship as a spectator, but now she will really be involved in the tournament.

Whetuaroha has played basketball since he was three years old, and has a real thirst for the sport and for other cultures.

Already, Whetuaroha is learning to speak Spanish and Japanese, as well as being fluent in Te Reo Maori. He says his mum is his biggest supporter in sport and all aspects of life, and he hopes this trip will make her proud of him.

Children of the World is a social and cultural basketball event for teenagers. The players and coaches will participate in basketball tournaments and clinics, undertake many “teamwork and team play” activities and games, experience the beauty of Istanbul, enjoy Turkish cuisine and attend games of the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Men.

The camp will take place from August 24-31, 2010, with flights and accommodation covered by FIBA and the Turkish Basketball Federation.

www.childrenoftheworld2010.com/cowENG.html