BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The Solomon Islands Basketball Federation (SIBF) is set to begin preparations for national squads after officially completing its registration with the National Sports Council Solomon Islands (NSC) for 2026.
Information released by NSC through its official media platform on Monday confirmed that SIBF is the 11th national federation to complete registration with the council this year.
The registration was confirmed following the acceptance of the federation’s application by the NSC Board, allowing SIBF to immediately access key opportunities available to registered national sporting federations.
In its statement, NSC Media said the approval provides several benefits for the federation and its athletes.
“Under the NSC framework, SIBF can now book national sporting facilities at no cost for training national squads, while competitions and international events may be held at standard usage rates,” the council said.
The council noted that the registration will also enable the federation to move forward with forming national teams.
“Under this registration, Solomon Islands Basketball Federation is eligible to nominate one Senior Men’s and one Senior Women’s national squad,” NSC Media said.
The council added that the pathway also extends to developing younger players through structured programmes.
“One priority age-group squad for men and women may also be nominated, selected according to NSC guidelines to support the national athlete pathway”.
Another major benefit is access to elite training support through the country’s High-Performance system.
“The federation also gains access to the High Performance (HP) Centre to support elite athlete preparation and development,” the council said.
As a registered federation, SIBF may also apply for financial assistance under the NSC Governance Grant.
“As a registered federation, SIBF may also apply for the NSC Governance Grant of $10,000 and other funding opportunities”, the statement noted, adding that approvals are subject to compliance requirements and availability.
While the federation has secured its registration, NSC Media indicated that SIBF will still submit its audited financial statements for 2025 after its upcoming Annual General Meeting.
Basketball administrators say the registration represents an important step in strengthening the development pathway for the sport in Solomon Islands.
Established in 1987, the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation is responsible for organizing and developing basketball in the country and represents Solomon Islands in regional and international competitions under the world governing body FIBA.
The sport has continued to expand in recent years through development programs that aim to increase youth participation and strengthen women’s involvement.
NSC Media noted that basketball teams from Solomon Islands have also competed in regional competitions such as the FIBA Melanesian Basketball Cup, which serves as an important pathway towards qualification for future Pacific Games and other international tournaments.
The council said the registration forms part of its broader effort to strengthen governance and improve athlete development across national federations.
“SIBF’s registration reflects the NSC’s continued commitment to strengthening governance, building sustainable athlete pathways, and supporting national federations to compete at regional and international levels”, NSC Media said.
A governance recognition certificate has also been issued to formally acknowledge the federation’s compliance under the NSC framework.
With the registration now confirmed, attention is expected to shift towards forming national squads and preparing athletes for upcoming regional competitions in 2026, as basketball continues to grow across the country.
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