GO HOOP!
The GO HOOP! project aims to bring together the twin cities of Gorizia and Nova Gorica through the creation of a cross-border basketball ecosystem. The goal is to bring closer the younger generation through basketball. It will start with the organization of a first cross-border city basketball championship, with the participation of 8 basketball clubs from Gorica and Nova Gorica. In the second stage, two editions of the cross-border basketball festival will be organized, one in 2024 and the second in 2025. The project aims to involve young basketball players and fans, bringing economic benefits to the cities involved. Cross-border cooperation is crucial to ensure the success of the event and the active involvement of the community on both sides of the border.
The overall objective of the project was to create a sustainable cross-border basketball ecosystem between Nova Gorica and Gorica, capable of promoting social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and long-term collaboration among young people.
The specific objectives of the project were:
- to strengthen cross-border cooperation among young athletes through joint training sessions and regular sports activities;
- to improve participants’ intercultural and language skills through informal learning in a sports context;
- to increase the involvement of children and young people in organized sports activities in the cross-border area;
- to develop and implement a model of cooperation between sports organizations in the two cities;
- to increase the visibility and recognition of the cross-border area through the organization of public sports events;
- to enrich the sports and cultural activities with attractive content;
- to promote the active participation of the local community and strengthen the sense of shared identity in the cross-border area.
Over the course of two years, the project involved hundreds of young athletes, coaches, referees and families from the cities of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, contributing to the creation of a stable and lasting cross-border sports network. During this period, a total of 24 teams participated and nearly 100 games were played.
Five mini-basketball tournaments were organized for children aged 5 to 7, with approximately 100 children participating in each event.
The summer camps attracted approximately 200 children across two editions held in three different locations. In addition to sports activities, an Italian-Slovenian language workshop was organized, resulting in the creation of a glossary of basketball terms and an educational brochure, as well as a rap workshop that led to the creation of the song “Od zdej naprej bo usje drgači” and its accompanying music video.
Five “Tournaments of the Generations” were organized (2 U12, 1 U14 and 2 U16), with teams participating from four countries.
The three Basketball Festivals involved an average of about 300 children per event, creating important opportunities to connect sport, culture and the community. The sports, cultural and recreational activities helped strengthen the project’s participatory and cross-border dimensions.
The “Match of Legends of the Two Gorizias” brought together 40 former players, coaches and referees, celebrating local sports heritage and fostering dialogue between generations.
Special events included an international match between the Chinese U19 national team and Dinamo Gorizia, the presentation of a book by mountaineer Viki Grošelj, and press conferences dedicated to sharing the project’s results.
The project also participated in the Gorizia Carnival and the Carnival celebration in Romans, which involved approximately 200 children across two events. A total of 220 players from Gorizia and Nova Gorica had the opportunity to participate in the Basketball Cup in Sarajevo, a four-day experience that enabled participants to take part in a cultural and sporting exchange, strengthening cross-border ties, team spirit and cohesion among the participants.
The “Gogi & Gigi” tournament was also organized to mark the inauguration of the Gogi & Gigi basketball court, with teams composed of four players from different clubs or associations.
LINK to the basketball glossary in Italian and Slovenian.