Sports Visitor Program
Nominated by our U.S. embassies overseas, selected athletes, managers and coaches are brought to the U.S. for technical sports training, sports management, conflict resolution training and exposure to valuable U.S. sports contacts and then are encouraged to return to conduct in-country clinics for youth with their newly learned skills.
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Living a Dream in the U.S.
On September 29, 2009, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ SportsUnited office welcomed 19 basketball coaches from Tanzania for a Sports Visitors program. This action-packed, 13 day, two-city program was filled with a whirlwind of activities and clinics for the basketball coaches to learn from and take home the information to make their own.
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The Best of Baseball Welcome Youth from Taiwan
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) SportsUnited Office is bringing a delegation of baseball-playing youth from Taiwan to Washington, D.C. and Chicago, IL to experience baseball in the United States from September 21- October 2, 2009. The program will feature special events with baseball legend and Hall of Famer Ernie Banks and current Washington Nationals star slugger Adam Dunn.
Read Their Blog »| View Photos » |
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Spreading the Light of Diplomacy in Nigeria
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ SportsUnited Office brought 12 Nigerian coaches to the U.S. for 10 days in August for a soccer-focused Sports Visitor Program. The group of 6 men and 6 women interacted with soccer players, coaches and enthusiasts at all level of play, from young children through hall of fame professionals.
Read Their Blog » | View Photos » |
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Lebanese Basketball Coaches Discover the Spirit of Freedom in the U.S.
Twelve Lebanese basketball coaches participated in a Sports Visitor Program in the Washington, D.C. area from July 14-25, 2009. Comprised of seven men and five women, the delegation’s twelve day exchange was created by the Department of State’s SportsUnited office.
Read Their Blog » | View Photos » |
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Southern Hospitality Shines Through for Iraqi Delegation
Ten Iraqi basketball players between the ages of 14 and 16 and their three coaches participated in a recent Sports Visitors Program in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and in Knoxville, Tennessee. Read Their Blog » | View Photos »
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Athletes from Turkmenistan Experience New Aspects of Basketball
A delegation of ten youth basketball players from Turkmenistan, evenly split male and female between the ages of 14 and 16, spent thirteen days in the U.S. and experienced a diverse and comprehensive range of activities, providing them with a panorama of basketball culture in the United States. View Photos »
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Mali Athletes Develop their Basketball Skills and New Friendships in the U.S.
Youth basketball players from Mali participated in array of activities during a thirteen day exchange program through the Department of State’s SportsUnited office, each of which was highlighted by the personal connections and friendships that were established. View Photos » | Watch Video »
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Female Pakistani Soccer Players Learn New Skills, Aim for the Stars
Pakistani girls traveled to the U.S. and participated in various levels of soccer play as well as learned about fitness, nutrition and Title IX. Read Their Blog » | View Photos » | Watch Video »
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Dream Trip for Kyrgyzstan Basketball Team
Seven male Kyrgyz basketball players and their two coaches attended events in Washington, D.C. and Indianapolis, Indiana that exposed them to various levels of basketball in the U.S. This program is a follow-up to last summer’s successful Sports Envoy program that sent NBA legend Sam Perkins and Becky Bonner, an assistant coach of the University of Louisville’s women’s basketball team, to conduct basketball clinics for youth in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. View Photos »
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World Baseball Classic is a Home Run with Participants
Youth baseball players from Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic participated in a nine-day exchange for a Sports Visitors program. The group’s activities focused on Major League Baseball’s World Baseball Classic and other baseball related events in both Miami and Tampa, Florida. Read Their Blog | View Photos »
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West Bank Sports Leaders Learn Valuable Concepts in Sports Management
The Department of State’s SportsUnited division, an office of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, brought a 10-member delegation of Palestinian youth officials to Washington, DC and Atlanta for a two-week program designed to enhance their skills in oversight and management of youth centers. View Photos »
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America the Beautiful: Jordanian Track and Field Team See America in a Different Light
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of SportsUnited held its first Track and Field program October 12 – 26, 2008. An all female group from Jordan consisting of 11 girls, ages 15-17 along with two female coaches were here on a Sports Visitors program that visited North Carolina and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. View Photos »
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Female Moroccan Soccer Players Learn Playing and Life Skills in the U.S.
The Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs brought ten Moroccan girls and their two female coaches to participate in a Sports Visitors program for the office of SportUnited. The group spent twelve days in the U.S. improving their soccer skills, learning to be leaders, and meeting with their American contemporaries. View Photos »
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Three-Week Visit from South Africans Covers All the Bases
Eleven youth baseball coaches from South Africa came across nearly every level of baseball played in the United States during a three-week program. View Photos »
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Diplomacy Bank Shot, Iranian National Basketball Team Prepares for Olympics in U.S.
The State Department’s Office of Sports Initiatives in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the NBA, brought a 25-member delegation of the Iranian National Basketball team to Salt Lake City, Utah for a series of exhibition games. View Photos »
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