By Stefan Acevski / info@eurohoops.net
Euroleague Basketball’s One Team program, BKT, premium partner of the EuroLeague and naming partner of the BKT EuroCup, in collaboration with Zalgiris, celebrated the opening of a newly refurbished basketball court in the Silainiai residential area of Kaunas on Wednesday, June 17.
The ceremony marked the latest chapter of the One Team–BKT Legacy Project, which has already transformed courts in Istanbul, Athens, Berlin, and Badalona with the aim of creating lasting, positive change in local communities across Europe. Kaunas – home to one of the continent’s most passionate basketball cultures – was a natural next destination.
The celebration started with the symbolic ribbon cutting ceremony and the institutional speeches of all present personalities representing all the supporting entities.
“Kaunas is one of the great basketball cities in Europe, so it feels right that the Legacy Project should come here,” said Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe. “We are proud to support a community that has given so much to this sport, and we hope this court gives something back – not just to the players who use it, but to everyone in the neighborhood.”
BKT, a multinational company specializing in tire production for the Off-Highway industry, has been a central partner of the One Team–BKT Legacy Project since 2021.
“Kaunas has a special place in European basketball, and it has a special place in the One Team story,” said Ferran Neira, Accounts Senior Director Commercial Partnerships “This court is a symbol of what the program is about – using the power of sport to make a real difference in people’s lives. We are grateful to BKT, to Zalgiris, and to everyone in this community who made it possible.”
The refurbished court carries special significance for the city: its design incorporates the silhouette of Lithuanian basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis, who attended the ceremony alongside the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Kaunas Mr. Mantas Jurgutis, Paulius Motiejunas, Zalgiris Group Director and Zalgiris Kaunas star Azuolas Tubelis.
“Basketball has always been the heartbeat of Kaunas, and this court is for the young people who will keep it beating,” said Sabonis. “It is special to see my silhouette here, but what matters most is that this space gives the next generation a place to play, to grow, and to belong.”
“I think kids just need a space and an opportunity to have fun, grow and develop” said Tubelis. “A court like this one gives them all this and shows that, however we can support off the court matters just as much as what we do on it.”
“Silainiai is a neighborhood with a big heart, and this court reflects that,” said Mr. Mantas Jurgutis. “We are proud to support initiatives that invest in our communities and give young people the spaces they deserve. Basketball is part of who we are in Kaunas, and projects like this help ensure it stays that way.”
To conclude the opening, a special One Team on-court session was held, where athletes from the Lithuanian Special Olympics Committee participated in inclusive basketball drills and games alongside the stars, experiencing firsthand the power of teamwork and sportsmanship.
The Silainiai residential area is one of Kaunas’s most densely populated neighborhoods. By renewing this space, the project aimed to provide a modern, welcoming facility for local youngsters and people at risk of exclusion.
One Team is Euroleague Basketball’s social responsibility program. Since 2012, One Team has worked across Europe to support people facing social challenges, using basketball as a tool for personal growth and inclusion.
Read the full article here
