June 1st, 2017 | NEWS
The Sport Changes Life Foundation and Basketball Ireland are happy to announce their ‘Legacy Partnership’ as together they aim to help grow the sport of basketball on the island of Ireland.
The news comes ahead of the upcoming Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic, presented by Sport Changes Life and partner the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) sponsored by Aer Lingus in Belfast, SSE Arena of the 1st and 2nd of December of 2017.
The ‘Legacy Partnership’ has already begun, with the successful Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic, Sport Changes Life MAAC Coaching Clinic tour sponsored by Aer Lingus, that took place in Belfast, Dublin and Cork last week with coaches and players in attendance from across the area boards taking the opportunity to learn from the MAAC Women’s basketball coaches featuring Head Coaches from MAAC women’s basketball teams.
Sport Changes Life CEO and founder, Gareth Maguire, welcomed the new ’Legacy Partnership’: “We are absolutely delighted to announce this partnership with Basketball Ireland as we already have seen the positive impact this historic event is having, and going to have, on the basketball community here with outstanding turnouts of players and coaches alike to the MAAC Coaching Clinics just last week.
“Our core work at the Sport Changes Life Foundation is to raise the aspirations of young people throughout the island of Ireland, through sport, with our Victory Scholar programme. This event allows us to continue to inspire all ages and elements of the basketball community, as we have no doubt, that it will have a positive impact on future generations. I would like to personally thank Bernard O’Byrne for his input into developing the foundations of this ‘Legacy Partnership’ and we look forward to working closely with Basketball Ireland to develop legacy of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic throughout the game of basketball that we all love.”
Also welcoming the new partnership, Basketball Ireland Secretary General, Bernard O’Byrne stated: “Basketball Ireland is delighted to support this exciting initiative to engage people, especially young people, in the great sport of basketball. The quality of the games should be fantastic and the ancillary activities will also be very interesting. We are encouraging all of our members countrywide to consider taking in some of the games which should make this venture a success and the first of many such events.”
For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic please go to www.belfastbasketballclassic.com.
To purchase tickets to the Belfast Classic, visit http://www.ssearenabelfast.com/basketball-hall-of-fame-belfast-classic
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About the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic: The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic presented by the Sport Changes Life foundation and it’s partner the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will field four U.S college men’s basketball teams for the first-ever Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic. This, first of it’s kind, college basketball tournament held in conjunction with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Sport Changes Life, Rory McIlroy’s Foundation, the Rory Foundation, Aer Lingus, Belfast City Council, Velocity World Wide and The SSE Arena, Belfast is a two-day tournament held on December 1 and 2, will feature Holy Cross vs. Manhattan College and La Salle University vs. Towson University, followed by consolation and championship play on the second day. The event is powered by Darius, Velocity Worldwide’s customer engagement Technology to create a fan experience like no other for the fans attending the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic.
About Sport Changes Life: The primary goal of the Sport Changes Life Foundation is to provide an opportunity for raising the aspiration of young people on both sides of the Atlantic so that they can live out their dreams and guide them as sport changes their lives. We are a sports foundation built on inspiration, hope and victory. SCL works in disadvantaged communities to help young people find a path to a brighter future with the help of our international student-athletes, the Victory Scholars. In February 2016, SCL formally partnered with Rory McIlroy charity the Rory Foundation, as both foundations strive together to help change the lives of young people on the island of Ireland and beyond.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage. To purchase tickets to the Belfast Classic, visit http://www.ssearenabelfast.com/basketball-hall-of-fame-belfast-classic
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference: With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 36th year of competition during the 2016-2017 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference prides itself on continuing to grow and support both Men’s and Women’s Basketball. Along with Siena College, the MAAC will serve as the host for the 2018 & 2019 Women’s NCAA Basketball Regional as well as the 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball First & Second Rounds, all held at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY.
For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic:
Visit us online: www.belfastbasketballclassic.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/belfastbasketballclassic
… on Twitter @BelfastClassic
… on Instagram: @BelfastBasketballClassic
… email: info@belfastbasketballclassic.com
For more information on the Sport Changes Life Foundation:
Visit us online: www.sportchangeslife.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SportChangesLifeFoundation
… on Twitter @Sportchanges @Victoryscholars
… on Instagram: @Sportchangeslife
… or call 001 44 2890 454 964
Sport Changes Life Foundation PR Contact:
Julie McCabe
Massive PR
julie@massivepr.tv
