KIGALI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a new professional league launched by world basketball governing body FIBA and the America's NBA in February, on Thursday unveiled its official logo for the time in Rwandan capital city Kigali.
The new logo, which features the silhouette of a basketball player taking a jump shot on a vibrant green, yellow, red and royal blue background, celebrates the Pan-African footprint of the league, Africa's diversity and rich basketball heritage.
The red and royal blue connect to the logo of NBA, while also symbolizing love, energy, confidence and strength. The yellow and green speak to Africa's optimism, joy and wisdom, while celebrating health, harmony and environment.
The shape of the logo and the use of a player silhouette connect to the visual structure of the NBA's family of logos, which includes the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League and NBA 2K League. The use of a player taking a jump shot also speaks to one of the most fundamental plays in the game of basketball, a showcase of the talent and skill that will be on display when the inaugural BAL season scheduled to begin in March 2020.
BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall unveiled the logo at the Kigali Arena prior to a BAL qualifier game in the presence of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and other officials from Rwanda and basketball circles.
The logo reflects the exciting and dynamic nature of basketball, symbolizes the richness, diversity and authenticity of Africa, and represents African basketball on the world stage, said Fall.
Kagame said, the BAL will help African basketball player reach their highest value in Africa.
The inaugural regular season of BAL, which features 12 club teams from Africa, will take place in Cairo of Egypt, Dakar of Senegal, Lagos of Nigeria, Luanda of Angola, Rabat of Morocco and Monastir of Tunisia. Kigali will host the first-ever BAL Finals.