By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Aktor fans were awarded a symbolic gold vinyl trophy for creating the EuroLeague’s most intense and deafening atmosphere, after their triumph in the BKT Heartbeat Challenge 2025-26.
Euroleague Basketball announced more details on Monday.
Per the press release: “The second edition of the BKT Heartbeat Challenge ends with the triumph of Panathinaikos’ fans. The initiative, conceived by BKT, a global leader in the production of Off-Highway Tires, in collaboration with EuroLeague, was created to celebrate the passion and intensity of the competition’s fanbases.
The BKT Heartbeat Challenge is a competition that compares EuroLeague fanbases through a sound-monitoring system. Game after game, peak noise levels inside arenas are recorded and measured in decibels to quantify the intensity of chants, celebrations, and moments of excitement. The collected data is processed and shared weekly on the Instagram channels of @bkt.sport and @euroleague, engaging fans throughout the season.
During the competition, Panathinaikos fans finished first in the weekly rankings 13 times and reached the podium of the loudest fanbases in 18 out of 38 total Rounds: figures that highlight the consistency, passion, and determination of the Athens crowd.
To seal the achievement, an iconic and exclusive trophy was awarded: a gold vinyl record, engraved with the 13 Rounds won. A clear tribute to the music industry, symbolically representing the rhythm, heartbeat and intensity of Panathinaikos supporters.
The trophy ceremony took place on Friday, April 17, during the match between Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Anadolu Efes Istanbul, part of the EuroLeague thrilling regular season final round, at the Telekom Center Athens. After Partizan’s victory in the first edition (2024-25 season), the Greek fanbase claimed the title, standing out as the most passionate and engaging thanks to the atmosphere and noise generated during the competition.
The ceremony was held between the first and second quarters, at the presence of Marco Santin, Sponsorship Specialist at BKT Europe, who presented the trophy to Mr Green, the Panathinaikos mascot, symbolically awarding the recognition to the entire fanbase.
“The Heartbeat Challenge represents a unique initiative in the sports landscape. Since the first edition, we have seen how it successfully engages fans and sport enthusiasts, highlighting their passion and making them the true protagonists of a project that bridges the digital and physical worlds. This second edition has been even more engaging, as demonstrated by the results and the growth across social media channels, making the project increasingly recognized and appreciated by the entire fanbase,” commented Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director, BKT Europe.
With this recognition, BKT – Premium Partner of the EuroLeague since 2020 – aimed to pay tribute to the passion of the green and white supporters, considered the team’s true sixth man. The Telekom Center Athens is thus confirmed as one of the loudest and most deafening arenas in Europe, capable of influencing the pace of games.
The BKT Heartbeat Challenge once again confirms itself as a project that reflects BKT’s tangible commitment to enhancing and award the central role of fans, the true beating heart of the sporting spectacle.”