BAGUIO CITY – In celebration of the 173rd Anniversary of the birth of the World YMCA as well as the 125th anniversary of the invention of basketball by James Naismith at the YMCA, the “2017 YMCA WORLD CHALLENGE”, an annual event to mobilize the movement to share their great impact with local communities, was launched by the World YMCA on June 3, 2017.
Participating YMCA’s in the world took the challenge this year with the theme: Let’s play some Basketball! Our Game, Our Community. The YMCA World Challenge done every year is to raise awareness, invite others to join the movement, and to let people know of the noble mission of the Young Men’s Christian Association.
Inspired by the world YMCA participation in the 1st Global Conference on Faith and Sport, hosted by Pope Francis in the Vatican, people of different religions, sport, business gathered to discuss how faith and sports can work together to promote positive values, inspire young people and better serve humanity, embracing the principles of compassion, respect, love, enlightenment, balance, and Joy. The Pope delivered an enduring message in his own words: Challenge yourself in the game of life, as you do in sports.
In this regard, the YMCA’s in the Philippines simultaneously conducting the program on June 3, 2017, gathering young people and empowering them through the sport basketball to participate and accept the challenge in finding creative ways to serve the local communities.
The YMCA of Baguio City led young basketball enthusiasts at the YMCA gymnasium and at Loacan, Itogon Benguet to do basketball drills and shoot the hoops. Sports, being a part of the YMCA, have had great innovations for the organization. Sports had been a dependable tool for the YMCA in its service to local communities and empowering young people.
The 2017 YMCA World Challenge is also to commemorate and celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the invention and inception of Basketball in the YMCA by James Naismith a century ago today and the celebration of the 173rd Anniversary of the World YMCA. Looking into how YMCA’s in the world engage themselves with the community the World YMCA will reward the most diverse, creative, biggest, unique, and inspiring conduct of the activities.
By: BOBBY VINLUAN
