PARIS – July 19 2007 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced the top participating athletes from across the continent selected for Basketball without Borders Europe, a basketball instructional camp for young people that promotes friendship, healthy living and education. Led by NBA Finals MVP Tony Parker from the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns forward Boris Diaw, the camp features current and former NBA players and team personnel as camp coaches, and uniquely incorpo rates community outreach activities and educational seminars.

The young players (ages 18 & under) from 26 countries across Europe were selected by FIBA and the NBA, in conjunction with participating basketball federations, based on their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport. Held for the first time in France Basketball without Borders Europe is this year scheduled to take place at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris, 6 - 10 August. Co-organized by the NBA and FIBA the camp features Nike, EA SPORTS, HANNspree, Powerade, and Spalding as Marketing Partners for the event. A Basketball without Borders marketing partner since 2002, Nike will again outfit all the camp participants and coaches with Nike footwear and apparel. EA SPORTS will execute a competitive gaming event involving NBA players and BWB campers during one evening session. HANNspree, manufacturer of emotional TV sets, will be the event image provider thanks to their extraordinary screens. Partnering with NBA Cares and the town of Sarcelles, Powerade will be refurbishing two basketball courts in Sarcelles, a suburb of Paris. A special event program will be produced and broadcast by Sport+.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs today announced that, due to a sprained left ankle, Tony Parker will miss the 2007 Basketball without Borders Europe event. The camp runs from August 6-10 in Paris. Parker suffered the injury this week during practice with the French National Team. He is returning to the States and will be examined in San Antonio on Friday.
“Unfortunately, this injury requires me to return to San Antonio so I can be examined by team doctors and begin a rehabilitation program,” said Parker. “I am extremely disappointed that I cannot participate in this year's Basketball without Borders event in Paris. Since I attended the BWB in Beijing two years ago I have looked forward to hosting the event in my own country.”

August 8 – The campers were up bright and early for day three of Basketball without Borders Europe. First thing on their agenda was the Life Skills seminar to give the campers an overview of the camp Zoran Radovic, Development director of FIBA, Masai Ujuri, Director of Global Scouting for the Toronto Raptors, Amadou Fall (Dallas Mavericks) and Rich Scheubrooks from Nike talked to the campers about what it takes to be a great basketball player, the main focus being to work together as a team. “Although there are a lot of conflicts around the world, sport is the best way to unite people and this camp gives you the chance to meet people from a lot of different countries”, said Zoran Radovic. Masai Ujuri stressed the importance of education to the campers. “You must continue to go to school to study. This is as important as Basketball.”

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