wb60+ goes to stoiximan aegeanball
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 10
On 25 June 2026, Walking Basketball 60+ went to Syros for its first public presentation outside the pilot programme, as part of the Stoiximan AegeanBall Festival and in synergy with Stoiximan's corporate responsibility programme IROES.
Members of the first WB60+ team from the Municipal Senior Centres (KAPI) of Keratsini–Drapetsona, together with their coach and the programme team, invited local residents for an open introductory session, sharing their experience and demonstrating how basketball can be adapted to support active and healthy ageing.
Developed by COMM'ON in collaboration with the Greek Basketball Coaches Association (SEPK), Walking Basketball 60+ is the first walking sports programme in Greece to use basketball as a tool for physical activity, rehabilitation and psychosocial empowerment for older adults.
Designed for people with limited mobility or no previous sports experience, the programme combines gentle exercise, teamwork and social connection in a safe and supportive environment.
Can a basketball programme designed for people aged 60+ become part of community life across Greece?
The presentation in Syros marked an important milestone for the programme. Beyond introducing local residents to Walking Basketball, it opens a broader conversation about how municipalities and local communities can create new opportunities for physical activity, participation and wellbeing for older adults.
The session also brought to the island something more powerful than a demonstration:
the lived experience of the first WB60+ participants. People aged 60 to 86 who took part in the pilot cycle shared their own stories and show, through practice rather than words, that movement, play and community participation can remain part of everyday life at any age.
--> The Syros event builds on the results of the 2025-26 pilot programme implemented in the Municipality of Keratsini–Drapetsona. Over seven months, 30 participants from nine municipal senior centres took part in weekly training sessions, achieving an average participation rate of 83%.
--> Impact measurements conducted in collaboration with the Departments of Podiatry and Physiotherapy of Metropolitan College documented improvements in balance, while participants reported significant benefits related to confidence, social connection and quality of life.
For COMM'ON, the visit to Syros represents not only the first public appearance of Walking Basketball 60+ beyond its pilot community, but also the beginning of a wider effort to explore how sport can become a tool for healthy ageing, social participation and community wellbeing across different regions of the country.
. . .
When: 25 June 2026
Where: Syros, Stoiximan AegeanBall Festival
With the Support: Iroes, Stoiximan