The new season of the Basketball Development Program has started in Kvemo Kartli–Kakheti.

 

For the fourth consecutive year, the Georgian Basketball Federation has been implementing its Basketball Development Program in the regions. The program is organized by the Federation’s Regional Development Department, which receives a targeted grant from the FIBA Youth Development Fund as part of its cooperation with FIBA. The Federation supplements the funds received from the Fund, using them to purchase basketball equipment abroad, while playing and training uniforms are produced locally in Georgia.

All regions of Georgia have already benefited from this program multiple times, receiving not only major basketball equipment such as scoreboards and hoops, but also balls, uniforms, and a variety of training accessories necessary for practice.

One of the most interesting and engaging aspects of the program for young athletes is that members of the Regional Department, together with the Federation’s Vice President, Nikoloz Tskitishvili — a former professional basketball player — personally visit every region and deliver the equipment. Along with receiving material support, young basketball players also have the opportunity to meet a former NBA player and hear very valuable advice from him.

This time, the Vice President of the Georgian Basketball Federation, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, together with the Head of the Regional Development Department, Shalva Oniani, his deputy Aleko Petriashvili, and representatives from the Federation’s technical and media services, visited the Shida Kartli and Kakheti regions. Along with hoops, balls, dribbling goggles, and other basketball equipment, they delivered innovative shooting practice machines. These machines, produced in Turkey by order of the Regional Development Department, are designed to help beginner basketball players develop proper shooting technique. They are also suitable for teenagers who need to improve their shooting skills.

At the Rustavi “Khimik” gym, the Federation’s representatives were welcomed by Ilia Ketchakmadze, President of the Kvemo Kartli Basketball Federation, Vazha Kvijinadze, director of the basketball club “Rustavi 1991”, and coaches working with youth players.

From Rustavi, the Federation’s team traveled toward Kakheti, this time stopping in Kvareli. Previously, most of the equipment intended for Kakheti had been delivered to Telavi, from where it was distributed to all basketball centers in the region. This time, the inventory went directly to Kvareli, where basketball activity has recently increased significantly. Alongside boys, there are many girls in Kvareli who, upon receiving the diverse equipment provided by the program, are expected to become more engaged and develop their skills further.

The Basketball Development Program in the regions continues, with the next stop scheduled for mid-November in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions.