At the Nike Elite Summit, it became clear that anyone can be a role model
During the Nike Elite Summit, well-known Nike athletes visited the Paper Dome in Amsterdam Southeast. In this inspiring place where young people come together through sport, two different worlds met: the world of international top athletes and the world of local community impact. It showed once again: sport is about much more than just winning or losing.
“Sport has great social value, and everyone can play a role in that in their own way,” said Mark Schuurman, co-founder of 3X3 Unites. “It was powerful to see people from different backgrounds talk to each other and share how they try to be a role model.
”That’s exactly why Nike asked 3X3 Unites to take part in the Nike Elite Summit. The foundation uses 3x3 basketball to positively impact young people, help them grow, and become role models themselves. In doing so, they can inspire others - and that’s how 3X3 Unites has built its own community over the years.
At the Nike Elite Summit, many different people came together in the Paper Dome. Young people from Amsterdam Southeast were there, 3X3 Leaders walked around, and several top athletes joined, such as Arvin Slagter (Olympic gold medalist with the Dutch basketball team) and Dorka Juhasz (Hungarian WNBA player for the Minnesota Lynx).
First, Arvin Slagter and 3X3 Leader Jadeley Ben gave a 3x3 clinic. Jadeley completed the 3X3 Leader Course a few years ago. “What I love most is the connection with the kids,” Jadeley said earlier. “Before I became a 3X3 Leader, I didn’t want anything to do with children. But now they give me so much energy. It’s amazing to see how much joy they get from the little things. Even when I’m not in the mood, I always leave with a smile.”
After the clinic, several 3X3 Leaders shared how they make an impact in their neighborhood. One of them was Marie-Ange Bao Yankam: “Every Saturday and Sunday I lead a basketball clinic here at the Paper Dome,” she said. “It’s great to bring young people together through sport.”
Next came a Q&A session, hosted by former football player Rocky Hehakaija. The panel featured Arvin Slagter, Dorka Juhasz, and Rabiya Ulkü — who leads several girls’ programs within 3X3 Unites and works closely with Nike through the Made To Play program, which focuses on gender equality.
“I found Dorka’s story really inspiring,” said Rabiya. “She said that, as a little girl, she never imagined she’d play in the WNBA. But she learned that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and work hard. Now she uses her platform to speak up and represent women’s basketball. That really spoke to me.”
Rabiya’s story also inspired others. “I’m half Turkish and half Moluccan. In both cultures, women’s voices aren’t always seen as equal to men’s. That was tough growing up. I had to fight for my voice. Now that I’m a 3X3 Leader, I want to make sure girls have the same voice as boys.”
As she spoke, many heads nodded in the audience - a sign of recognition. WNBA player Dorka Juhasz even applauded her. “I was nervous at first,” Rabiya said, “but it went really well. I loved seeing people truly listening. One person from Nike even asked if I’d be willing to share my story more often.”
According to Mark Schuurman, the event at the Paper Dome proved that anyone can be a role model — from the local court to the global stage. “A role model from the streets can be just as valuable as a professional athlete,” he said. “By bringing different worlds together, we inspire each other and show that everyone can make a difference in their own way.”
The Paper Dome was the perfect place for this special event. Dorka Juhasz mentioned she wished she had a covered court like that when she was younger. “I used to play outside, even in the rain. Sometimes alone, when no one else wanted to join.”
“The Paper Dome is a place where you’re always welcome,” said 3X3 Leader Marie-Ange Bao Yankam. “We organize activities here, and young people from the neighborhood can come play anytime - even when the weather’s bad. I’m here a lot too. I’ve made many new friends and I train here often. My dream is to play in the top league one day.”