100+ Teams Celebrate NAIDOC Week at NAIDOC 3x3

Over 100 teams competed in the NAIDOC 3x3 Basketball Tournament at Rowland Cowan Stadium on Sunday in a celebration of culture, community, and basketball.

The event was opened with a traditional smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by the Yugara Dancers, followed by the ceremonial tournament tip-off. The perfect start to the tournament that celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Over 500 young athletes from across Australia got the opportunity to come together as a community to compete in the tournament for free. The action on the court saw teams from under 9s up to under 25s play. The Small Business 3x3 Division drew in professions from physiotherapists, to teachers, to youth workers compete and build team morale.

Teams were proudly sporting specially designed NAIDOC 3x3 uniforms generously sponsored by VistaPrint to celebrate the NAIDOC Week theme of 50 years of deadly.

The action didn’t stop on the court, as just outside the stadium doors was the NAIDOC Market, supporting First Nations owned small businesses. Over 25 market stalls sold culturally inspired products from cupcakes to jewellery to celebrate NAIDOC week and share their culture with the community and gain valuable exposure for their brands.

Young people also got to participate in cultural workshops such as boomerang painting with local artist Christine Watson. Christine, a proud Wakka Wakka woman, designed this year’s NAIDOC 3x3 uniform design titled “Walking the Land of 50 Years of Deadly”.

“The artwork is a symbol of the community coming together at one meaning place to celebrate 50 Years of Deadly”.

The NAIDOC 3x3 Tournament is truly an event like no other. Not only does it give young people access to free quality sporting programs, but it also brings together the community to celebrate NAIDOC Week and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.