BASKETBALL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: BKT AND ONE TEAM RENOVATE BADALONA’S ICONIC “GABIA” COURT

For the fourth consecutive year, BKT Tires and One Team have joined forces to give EuroLeague cities brand-new spaces to play basketball and have fun in a safe and healthy environment. This initiative once again highlights the commitment of the Premium Partner of Europe’s top basketball competition to the communities and areas where the sport thrives.

On June 24, the fourth One Team renovation project was inaugurated in Badalona, near Barcelona: a court known as “la pista de Canyadó,” but affectionately called “La Gabia” by locals. It’s a true community hub for the Canyadó neighborhood and an iconic spot for basketball lovers in the city.

Balkrishna Industries Ltd – global leader in off-highway tire manufacturing, known worldwide as BKT – and EuroLeague decided to involve a local partner in this social responsibility initiative. They chose the Ricky Rubio Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by the former FC Barcelona and NBA point guard (who grew up playing basketball in Badalona). The foundation supports lung cancer research and promotes social inclusion through sport.

Ricky Rubio attended the inauguration alongside Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe, who stated: "The partnership between BKT and One Team is now inseparable and highly successful. We are very proud to have supported this program since its inception. It’s a visionary initiative with a goal we fully share: improving the lives of communities connected to the EuroLeague. We also understand the importance of having a long-term vision, building projects that continue year after year, step by step. Only in this way can we truly leave a lasting mark on society.

One Team is EuroLeague’s CSR program, using basketball to create social value through various projects aimed at supporting vulnerable groups. This includes renovating basketball courts in tournament cities, made possible by BKT’s crucial financial support. The Badalona court is the fourth to be renewed, following similar projects in Istanbul, Athens, and Berlin, thanks to the synergy between EuroLeague, One Team, and BKT. This effort aligns with BKT’s broader European strategy of revitalizing play spaces in collaboration with its sponsored properties.

Projects like Fattore Campo in Italy, Places to Play in the UK, and the partnership with One Team are key elements of BKT’s identity and its journey in the sports world, with the goal of improving community life across Europe through its sponsorships.