One Team and Special Olympics launch Final Four weekend in Madrid

Since One Team, Euroleague Basketball's corporate social responsibility program, was founded in 2012, it has become tradition that the festivities at the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four tip off with an event that celebrates values that reach far beyond basketball courts and touch those that need it most. It was no different on Thursday morning at the world famous Puerta del Sol square when a special One Team training session raised the curtain on the 2015 Final Four in Madrid.

The occasion saw Euroleague stars and youngsters from Euroleague Basketball and One Team's long-time partner, Special Olympics, take the court together on a beautiful, sunny morning and turn it into a day to remember. Under the guidance of One Team coaches, the hour of basketball fun consisted of several exercises that promote teamwork and communication for 12 Special Olympics athletes and five big men who serve as Final Four One Team ambassadors - Kyle Hines of CSKA Moscow – who is also a Global One Team Ambassador – and his CSKA teammate Victor Khryapa, Salah Mejri of Real Madrid, Oguz Savas of Fenerbahe Ulker Istanbul, and Brent Petway of Olympiacos Piraeus.

With an assist from One Team coaches Michael Richardson and Marcel Maneja, players conducted drills and contests, but also made themselves available for photos and autographs and answered questions from Special Olympics Madrid athletes. On hand to greet the participants were Jordi Berotmeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO; Pablo Salazar, Director General of Sports from Comunidad de Madrid; and Enrique Herrero, Director General of Sports from the city of Madrid.

"These kind of events with Euroleague Basketball during the Final Four is absolutely the highlight event of the year for Special Olympics basketball," Miroslaw Krogulec, Senior Manager at Special Olympics in Europe and Eurasia, said. "I am so proud to have such partnership and such a relation with Euroleague Basketball and be a proud partner of One Team. To be here, at Puerta del Sol in Madrid, is something unique for our players, to be visible and to be the most important people at this moment in Madrid because with this event we are opening the Final Four. This kind of activity shows the goodwill of Euroleague to support any kind of diversity and disadvantaged groups, which people with intellectual disabilities are. If there is not for this event, these Special Olympics athletes would never meet Euroleague basketball stars that are here."

One young participant was quick to echo those sentiments when he was handed the microphone and addressed the crowd at Puerta del Sol.

"I am comfortable and I am having a very good time," Ruben Martin said. "I've seen how to play for the team, and we did very well. I like this a lot."

One Team is supported by Turkish Airlines and features 31 clubs in 14 countries across Europe. Together with its partners, One Team develops and promotes educational programs that use the power of basketball to integrate communities. Current One Team projects involve working with youths suffering from substance abuse, physical or intellectual disabilities, gender inequality and those economically disadvantaged. Since One Team’s founding, its programs have directly reached 5,000 participants and can account for 5,000 more indirect participants.

"Personally, it's a fulfilling and rich experience, and it is great to have opportunity to come out here, sharing my experiences with children and athletes here in the community," Kyle Hines of CSKA Moscow, Global One Team Ambassador, said. "I wish we got the opportunity to do this more often. Hopefully it will have a small impact, or a small change on a part of their lives. To me, seeing that impact is the best part. I think for us athletes is the most important to see the reaction on their faces, the joy, to see the smile, to see the happiness on athletes' faces, but also their competitive spirt. They really try to win the game, give their all to participate."

"It is a good action of Euroleague Basketball to help disadvantaged people through basketball," Salah Majri, Real Madrid One Team Ambassador. "We the players are always ready to help. It is nice to be in the open air and with all the people looking on here where they can see basketball is not only about competition, winning titles, but also about helping others and giving good ambitions to others."

"It is a great experience for me, as a player, too, seeing these youngsters happy with us on the same court," Savas of Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul. "Basketball is great way to help them, I am so happy to be here. Makes me happy to see smiles on their faces. It was really good to be Fenerbahce’s ambassador here at this event. It has been really good event with the Special Olympics athletes and people around the court watching. We try to do our best to use basketball to make difference and help."