The United Nations General Assembly has declared December 21 as World Basketball Day.
The resolution, which was initiated by the Philippines, Indonesia, Nicaragua, and Peru and co-sponsored by 77 other countries, was approved on August 25, the same day the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 opened.
Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Antonio Lagdameo said basketball "transcends borders, cultures, and languages" and is "a unifying force where people from different backgrounds can come together, bond and communicate with each other, creating connections and breaking down barriers, and thereby contributing to peace."
"Our action today is to honor a sport that people love, to serve as a gift to everyone who views basketball as a pathway to greater heights and sporting excellence, and to further enhance its contribution to global peace and development," he added.??
We're excited that the United Nations General Assembly has designated December 21st as World Basketball Day, we look forward to celebrating this day with everyone around the world who loves the game of basketball. pic.twitter.com/Lsllayn0EQ
— NBA Cares (@nbacares) August 28, 2023
Lagdameo also shared that the Philippines has "more basketball courts per capita than anywhere in the world."
"In 2019, the Philippines had the highest basketball popularity index score globally. In 1975, the Philippines established Asia’s first and oldest professional basketball league, the Philippine Basketball Association, which remains active and competitive to this day," said Lagdameo.
With the resolution, the sport of basketball, which was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 at the International YMCA Training School, became the first sport to be recognized by the UN General Assembly with its own international day.
