SportsUnited - Sports Envoy Program
Working with the national sports leagues and the U.S. Olympic Committee, athletes and coaches in various sports are chosen to serve as envoys or ambassadors of sport in overseas programs that include conducting clinics, visiting schools and speaking to youth. The American athletes and coaches conduct drills and team building activities, as well as engage the youth in a dialogue on the importance of an education, positive health practices and respect for diversity.
Department of State Partners with NBA to Reach Out to Youth Overseas
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Sports United office, in partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), is conducting a series of Sports Envoy programs this summer. From May to September, current and former NBA and WNBA players will travel as ECA Sports Envoys to four regions of the world, leading basketball clinics in Qatar, Bahrain, Uganda, Mozambique, Georgia and the Philippines. Read the Players' Bios »
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U.S. Basketball Envoys Score in Qatar
NBA Legend Sam Perkins and former WNBA player Carla McGhee traveled to Qatar from May 27-31, 2009 to conduct basketball clinics for coaches and youth, aged 10 through 17. The envoys also worked with the Qatar Junior Men’s National Basketball Team, members of the Women’s Senior, and Junior National Basketball Teams. The program was conducted in conjunction with the NBA and the Qatar Women's Sports Committee. View Photos »
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''Knowledge is Power'' to U.S. Basketball Envoys in Bahrain
Former NBA and WNBA players, Jerome Williams and Andrea Stinson traveled to Bahrain from June 13-18, 2009, to conduct basketball clinics for coaches and youth. The two Sports Envoys taught dynamic techniques and spoke about the importance of hard work to Bahraini boys, girls, and coaches. Read their Blog | View Photos » |
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Soccer Envoys Bring their Experience and Knowledge to Bolivian Youth
U.S. Sports Envoys Amanda Cromwell, former Women’s National Team member and current coach at the University of Central Florida, and Jay Miller, former U-17 Men’s National Team coach and current Executive Coaching Director of the Atlanta Fire United Soccer Association, conducted soccer skills clinics for over 900 youth athletes and 55 coaches during their seven-day program in Bolivia. View Photos | Watch Video »
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USA Women’s Badminton Team to Visit Iran
The team will compete in the Fajr International Badminton Tournament at the invitation of the Iranian Badminton Federation from February 3-9, 2009.
U.S. Department of State Statement Regarding Cancellation of Team Visit to Iran USA Badminton Statement Regarding Team Visas to Iran |
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U.S. Soccer Envoys a Big Hit with Nigerian Youth
U.S. Soccer stars Lauren Gregg and Marcelo Balboa returned to Nigeria from November 29 – December 4, 2008 to conduct soccer clinics for coaches and youth.
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Barry Larkin Hits a Home Run with Colombian Youth
Former Major League Baseball player Barry Larkin visited Colombia as an Envoy for the Sports United Program for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. View Photos »
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ECA Basketball Envoys Team Up for Successful Programs in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
NBA Legend Sam Perkins and Becky Bonner, Director of Operations for the University of Louisville’s Women’s Basketball program, spent nine days in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan conducting basketball clinics, visiting schools, and interacting with a wide range of students, officials, and athletes. View Photos »
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Erikka and Ashley Sweep the Beach
From August 11-17, 2008, ECA Sports Envoys Erikka Gulbranson and Ashley Dean taught volleyball skills to young Brazilians in Recife. The two collegiate coaches gave clinics for over 1,200 Brazilians, including public and private school children, university athletes, and members of a Brazilian professional team. View Photos »
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175 Years of Thai-U.S. Friendship Played Out on the Courts
July 2008 marks the 175th Anniversary of Thai-U.S. friendship. To celebrate, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, the NBA, and the WNBA to host the Friendship Basketball Camp. View Photos »
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SportsUnited Friendship Basketball in Jeddah
In an act of progressive public diplomacy, SportsUnited – an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs – conducted its first Sports Envoy program in Saudi Arabia, July 7-11, 2008. View Photos »
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Ripken Baseball Returns to China
As a follow-up to Cal Ripken Jr.’s successful visit to China last year as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) sent a team of baseball coaches to Wuxi, China to conduct clinics for coaches and youth. View Photos »
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PANAMA, NICARAGUA: Back-to-Back Home Runs for Baseball Diplomacy
The joint U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Defense’s Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) baseball initiative scored big in Panama and Nicaragua April 21 – May 7, 2008. View Photos »
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Life Lessons the Golden Goal of Salvadoran Soccer Clinics
Over the course of the six days that Sports Envoys Cindy Parlow Cone and Jeff Pill spent in El Salvador, they involved over 700 Salvadoran children in clinics throughout the country. Alongside the soccer instruction was a focus on how hard work and healthy lifestyle choices can lead to great accomplishments. View Photos »
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Sports Envoys Score with Moroccan Youth
American soccer star, Lorrie Fair, and renowned coach, Jay Miller, led four days of soccer clinics for 60 girls and boys from March 31 to April 4, 2008, in Bouznika, Morocco. View Photos »
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U.S. Wrestlers Compete in Iran at prestigious Takhti Cup
Twenty American athletes and coaches, representing the USA Wrestling Federation, competed in the Iranian wrestling tournament, the Takhti Cup, in Bandar Abbas, Iran, January 18-19, 2007. View Photos »
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Soccer Sports Envoys visit the Philippines
U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney’s ceremony kicked off a week of soccer clinics, with soccer Sports Envoys Tiffany Roberts and Linda Hamilton conducting drills in Manila, Iloilo, and Bacolod. View Photos »
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State Department and the NBA Promote Basketball and Bestow Hope in the Congo
ECA sen NBA star players Juwan Howard and Dikembe Mutombo and WNBA All-Star Nikki McCray as Sports Envoys to conduct basketball clinics in the Democratic Republic of Congo for nearly 250 Congolese boys and girls. View Photos »
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