IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1625 
Supporting the recognition of ‘‘World Basketball Day’’, celebrated globally 
on December 21 each year, and honoring the contributions of basketball 
to global unity, international sports diplomacy, and the transformative 
impact of the sport on communities across the world. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 19, 2024 
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia (for herself, Mr. MOORE of Utah, Mr. NEAL, Mr. 
CISCOMANI, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. CARSON, Mr. CARTER of Lou-
isiana, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. ESPAILLAT, 
Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, Mr. STANTON, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. 
TITUS, Mr. VEASEY, and Ms. SCHOLTEN) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Account-
ability 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the recognition of ‘‘World Basketball Day’’, cele-
brated globally on December 21 each year, and honoring 
the contributions of basketball to global unity, inter-
national sports diplomacy, and the transformative impact 
of the sport on communities across the world. 
Whereas basketball is a sport enjoyed by millions of people 
across the globe, uniting individuals from diverse cultures 
and backgrounds through a shared love of athleticism 
and teamwork; 
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•HRES 1625 IH 
Whereas the game of basketball is a key element of North 
American sporting heritage, having been invented in 
Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891, by James Naismith, 
a Canadian-American educator, physician, and chaplain; 
Whereas, on August 25, 2023, the United Nations General 
Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming December 21 
annually as World Basketball Day; 
Whereas World Basketball Day provides an opportunity to 
reflect on the role basketball plays in fostering sports-
manship and mutual respect, transcending cultural dif-
ferences; 
Whereas the United States has been a central hub in the de-
velopment and global spread of basketball, which has en-
riched both domestic and international communities and 
influenced countless lives through programs, professional 
leagues, and community engagement initiatives; 
Whereas more than 585,000,000 people worldwide play bas-
ketball annually; 
Whereas a record-tying 125 international players from a 
record-tying 43 countries across 6 continents were on 
National Basketball Association (NBA) opening-night 
rosters for the 2024–2025 season, showcasing the growth 
and success of basketball across the world; 
Whereas three international players, Joel Embiid, Nikola 
Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, have combined to 
win the last 6 NBA Most Valuable Player awards; 
Whereas, since 1978, the NBA has played more than 215 
games in more than 20 countries outside the United 
States and Canada; 
Whereas the Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, 
Massachusetts, has been a beacon for recognizing the 
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•HRES 1625 IH 
sport’s greatest contributors, and the work of the basket-
ball community continues to inspire young people to excel 
both on and off the court; 
Whereas basketball and basketball players have served as a 
forum and ambassadors for cross-cultural understanding 
and humanitarian cooperation; and 
Whereas Dikembe Mutombo, former NBA player and global 
humanitarian, has served as an exemplary figure in using 
basketball as a platform to promote peace, education, and 
health care, particularly through his work in his native 
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the recognition of World Basket-
ball Day, celebrating the values of teamwork, sports-
manship, and unity fostered through basketball; 
(2) commends the efforts of athletes, organiza-
tions, and individuals who have contributed to the 
advancement of basketball as a vehicle for positive 
change in communities around the world; 
(3) honors the contributions of Dikembe 
Mutombo, and others like him, who have used their 
platform to further humanitarian causes and foster 
peace through the universal language of basketball; 
and 
(4) encourages the continued growth of basket-
ball programs, at home and abroad, that create 
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•HRES 1625 IH 
pathways for the next generation of leaders, drive 
upward opportunities, and build upstanding citizens. 
Æ 
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