The Allan Labor Government is giving Victoria’s next generation of basketballers the chance to shoot hoops with their homegrown idols before they make their mark at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Acting Premier Ben Carroll and Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Ros Spence today joined the super kids clinic led by the Opals, Boomers, Rollers and Gliders at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre to celebrate BALLIN’24.

The coaching clinic is giving Victoria’s young basketballers the opportunity to learn from their homegrown heroes, with more than 400 players aged 10-16 getting the chance to hone their skills and gain insights from some of the nation’s best basketballers, supported by Basketball Australia.

Thousands of fans are set to flock to John Cain Arena for this pre-Olympics series which kicks off next Tuesday, 5 July with Boomers vs China followed by three nights of contests across men’s, women’s, wheelchair and 3×3 competition.

All six of Australia’s national basketball teams will play in the history-making series in Melbourne which will be broadcast in China, Japan and around the world – reaching millions of viewers and cementing Melbourne’s status as the nation’s major events and sporting capital.

BALLIN’24 adds to Victoria’s stellar calendar of sporting and cultural events this winter, including game two of the NRL State of Origin, Wallabies vs Wales, the RISING festival and NGV’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Pharaoh.

Victoria’s jam-packed calendar of major events injected a record $39.3 billion into the state’s economy during the year ending March 2024 – boosting local jobs, businesses and attracting thousands of visitors to Melbourne.

For more information and to secure the remaining tickets available visit australia.basketball/ford-ballin24-melbourne.

As stated by Acting Premier Ben Carroll

“We’re bringing international basketball to Melbourne, creating more jobs, and giving fans the chance to cheer on our Australian teams before they head off to Paris.”

As stated by Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Ros Spence

“John Cain Arena will be packed with fans over four big days and nights of basketball and the benefits will be felt across the city and state.”

As stated by Member for Albert Park Nina Taylor

“This is such an opportunity for our young basketballers to train alongside our homegrown stars and cheer them on to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

As stated by Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Matt Scriven

“We are on the eve of an exciting moment in Australian basketball history. For the first time, six of our national teams will compete in an action packed schedule under the same roof at John Cain Arena in Melbourne.”