press releases 2007

Lebanese Youth Basketball Players Follow Their Hoop Dreams to the U.S.

August 22, 2007

Picture pause for the young athletes (Photo by Mary Knight)...

In an ongoing effort to bring the peoples of Lebanon and the United States together, the U.S. Embassy is sponsoring a group of 12 teenage basketball players from various Lebanese sports clubs to participate in a two-week citizen exchange program in Las Vegas and Washington D.C. from August 26 to September 8, 2007. Two coaches will accompany the players, a split of boys and girls ages 14-16, who come from all parts of Lebanon. This is the first year of this Department of State initiative designed specifically for Lebanese players.

The program objective is to highlight the role that sports plays as a cultural medium to build bridges of mutual understanding and to serve as a common language around the world. Sports also promote essential values such as tolerance, respect and leadership, especially among young people from diverse backgrounds.

The young athletes will have the opportunity to play basketball with Americans of their age, practice with renowned coaches and participate in conflict resolution, teambuilding and leadership workshops. The group will first attend the 2007 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Americas Championship in Las Vegas before visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona and historical and cultural sites in Washington. This program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State.

For additional information on this and other Embassy-sponsored programs for Lebanese youth, visit the U.S. Embassy website (http://lebanon.usembassy.gov).

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