Special Activities leading up to 125th Anniversary on December 21, 2016
SPRINGFIELD, MA – On December 21, 1891, a physical education instructor named James Naismith introduced a new game to a class of young men in an otherwise unremarkable gymnasium at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Mass. The objective of this game seemed simple; throw a round ball into a round basket tacked to a balcony 10 feet above the floor. The pace of the game was slow and its origins humble, but the new pastime spread quickly and by 1894, basketball was being played in France, China, India and more than a dozen other countries.
On December 21, 2016, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the basketball community will celebrate 125 years of basketball – a game that has grown tremendously on the global stage and positively impacted an immeasurable number of players, coaches and fans.
“The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to promote and preserve the game we love,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “The game has reached far more people than Dr. Naismith could have ever imagined and we look forward to commemorating his legacy and the great game of basketball during this momentous anniversary.”
As part of this celebration, the Basketball Hall of Fame has released the official logo for the 125 years of basketball depicted below. This logo will be utilized throughout the upcoming year for a variety of special activities and events during the countdown to the 125th Birthday of Basketball. Beginning in 2016, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will recognize the 125 best basketball venues ranging from high school gymnasiums to NBA arenas. These locations will be acknowledged with a celebratory banner as pictured below.
Beginning in the spring of 2016, the official Basketball Hall of Fame twitter (@hoophall) will host a number of basketball-themed countdowns such as the Top 125 Basketball Shoes of All-Time and the Top 125 Moments in the History of Basketball. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #NaismithDay to share their special basketball moments and memories.
The date August 19th, 125 days before the 125th Anniversary, will serve as the official countdown date for the 125th Anniversary Auction on www.hoophall.com. Basketball fans will have the opportunity to bid on 125 collectibles of the game including autographed Hall of Fame Enshrinement memorabilia from the Hall of Fame's private collection.
The festivities will culminate with a one-day event at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to celebrate the game on the Birthday of Basketball, December 21, 2016. Additional special events may be unveiled in 2016.
125th Anniversary Logo:
125th Anniversary Top Basketball Venue Banner:
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBHOF
… on Twitter/Instagram: @hoophall #NaismithDay
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA