THE Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has accepted an  offer by the Turkish Basketball Federation and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to send participants, one boy and one girl along with a coach, to the ‘Children of the World Camp’ which will be held during the 2010 FIBA World Championships from August 28 to September 12 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Contacted yesterday afternoon, president of GABF, David Patterson, said the federation was aware of the invitation but under the circumstances has tasked the associations with putting up names to the governing body.
He stated emphatically when contacted for a comment, “We are sending persons”.
Every National Basketball Federation has been offered, through the Turkish Basketball Federation, an opportunity to send one boy and one girl to the Children of the World Camp and they are to be accompanied by a young basketball coach who imust be 35 years or under. Young local players will be participating too.
All costs are borne by the organisers and the camp will be held in several languages.
This is a unique opportunity for all the national member federations to share the excitement of the 2010 FIBA World Championship and to provide these young players with unforgettable experiences while meeting their fellow basketball friends from Turkey, learning about new cultures and making new friends.
The Turkish Basketball Federation and FIBA expect that each national federation that takes part in this project will also register and participate with its official delegate(s) in the 2010 FIBA World Congress to be held in Istanbul on September 4 to 6, 2010, as per separate invitations sent out by FIBA.
FIBA Oceania has sent the application forms to all Oceania Federations.  It is the responsibility of the Federation to make application directly to the Turkish Basketball Federation. (Joe Chapman)