American People and Tanzanians Sponsor Professional Basketball Clinics

Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt (center seated) former Tanzania's Chief Justice and Patron of the TBF, Justice Augustino Ramadhani (3rd left seated), Representative of the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Ms. Juliana Yassoda (2nd right) with leaders of TBF, U.S Sports Envoys and Representatives of Coca-Cola and FHI during the clinic opening ceremony held at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Dar es Salaam. (Photo courtesy of the American Embassy)

U.S Ambassador to Tanzania Alfonso E. Lenhardt (center) with U.S Sports envoys and former NBA and WNBA players, Ms. Becky Bonner (left) Mr. Dee Brown (2nd left), Tamika Raymond (2nd right) and Vice President of the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF), Mr. Phares Magesa when the sports envoys paid him a visit at the U.S Embassy in Dar es Salaam.  The three U.S sports envoys are visiting Tanzania from September 5-9 where they are collaborating with local basketball coaches to conduct basketball clinics for 100 youth from across Tanzania. Ambassador Lenhardt honored the envoys and the leader of TBF with a special ambassadorial Coin of Excellence for their efforts in improving lives of Tanzanian youth. (Photo courtesy of the American Embassy)

  
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Using sports as a means to build stronger people-to-people connections and empower young people worldwide, U.S. Sports Envoys and legends from the National Basketball Association (NBA) Dee Brown and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Tamika Raymond are visiting Tanzania from September 5 - 9, 2011.  They are joined by Becky Bonner from the NBA's Basketball Operations International Group.

Dee Brown is a retired American professional basketball player who spent twelve seasons from 1990 - 2002 in the NBA, playing for the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and Orlando Magic.  Tamika Raymond is a former professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.  She was known as Tamika Williams prior to marrying former University of Minnesota Duluth basketball player Ben Raymond in 2007.
 

The U.S. Sports Envoys program is sponsored by the American people through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the National Basketball Association (NBA) in partnership with the NBA, WNBA, the Tanzanian Basketball Federation (TBF), Coca Cola-Sprite, and Family Health International (FHI).

 On September 6, Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt joined retired Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhani, TBF President Mussa M. Mziya, TBF Vice President Phares Magesa, TBF Secretary General Alexander A. Msoffe and Representative from the Ministry for Youth Information, Culture and Sports Juliana Yassoda at the NBA and WNBA Sports Envoy Basketball Clinic Opening Ceremony at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Dar Es Salaam.

 In his remarks, the Ambassador noted: "The NBA's and WNBA's visit to Tanzania represents the spirit and generosity of the American people.  These Sports Envoys have traveled far from home to bring a message of hope and inspiration to Tanzanian youth.  I commend the Tanzania Basketball Federation, the Government of Tanzania, Coca Cola-Sprite, FHI, and other corporate sponsors.  It is sponsors like you who make these events possible.  They are leaders who find ways in which to inspire youth and promote their education and development.  They understand that this is our common responsibility.  Sports Envoys, thank you for setting the example and being so generous with your time serving others."

The Ambassador also urged the 100 Tanzanian youth participants from all parts of the country to invest their energies in earning a good education, describing it as "the one thing that no one can take away from you.  It is your ticket for greater successes in life in whatever path you may choose.  The competition in today's world requires youth to earn an education to succeed in the work market.  You must prepare now.  Dee, Bonnie, and Tamika will tell you that they would not be here today without an education.  It takes character, commitment, and perseverance.  I believe each of you have it within you."

Sports diplomacy builds on Secretary Clinton’s vision of “smart power” diplomacy. It embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools, including sports, to bring people together for greater understanding.  Becky Bonner, NBA legend Dee Brown, and former WNBA standout Tamika Raymond will meet with primary and secondary school students and lead basketball clinics and teambuilding exercises with Tanzanian youth.
 

Sports Envoys are current and retired professional athletes and coaches that travel overseas to conduct drills and team building activities, as well as engage youth in a dialogue on the importance of education, positive health practices and respect for diversity.  In partnership with SportsUnited - the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ premier sports exchange program at the U.S. Department of State - 42 NBA and WNBA players and coaches have visited 19 different countries since 2004, where they have conducted basketball clinics for thousands of young boys, girls and coaches.