| TURKMENISTAN BASKETBALL SPORTS GROUP VISITS UDC |
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| Sunday, May 24, 2009 |
Washington, DC--The University of the District of Columbia was recently selected by the U.S. Department of State to host a Turkmenistan Basketball Visitor's Group as a part of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Sports Diplomacy Program. The Cultural Affairs Sports Diplomacy Program is an International Sports Programming I
 nitiative designed to work at the grass roots level to aid non-elite youth, ages 7-17, in discovering how success in athletics can be translated into the development of life skills and achievement in the classroom. The Group visited the University on Friday, May 22, 2009.The Initiative provides the foreign participant an opportunity to establish linkages with U.S. sports professionals and exposure to American life and culture. The experience also provides Americans the opportunity to learn about foreign cultures and the challenges young people from other countries face.
Sports Visitors Nominated by our US 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 US sports contacts and then are encouraged to return to conduct in-country clinics for youth with their newly learned skills overseas face today.
The UDC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics served as the official host of the delegation. Upon receiving the request to host the Turkmenistan Basketball Sports Group Patricia Ann Thomas, director of athletics at the University, stated, "I am delighted that UDC was chosen to host this special group of international visitors. This partnership is a unique opportunity to explore UDC's historical background, educational programs and facilities."
Fred Reynolds, III, UDC's associate director of athletics for compliance, coordinated the site visit. After giving them an overview of the athletic program and how prospective athletes become and remain successful student-athletes at the University, Reynolds introduced Twyla Jones, the University's international admission counselor, who gave an informative presentation on the admission process for international students. Following that, the students were taken to the UDC Physical Activities Center where the Athletic Trainer Terrence Gee gave a Fitness Center tour and strength and conditioning session. Later, Head Women?s Basketball Coach Lester L. Butler, Jr., conducted a basketball skills session with the students.
Sports Diplomacy Program Background Information
Throughout history, sports have played an important role in the social, political, and economic lives of peoples and nations. Sports are a shared cultural passion that can bring people together across the divisions of region, race and religion in athletic competition that is a powerful source of national pride and solidarity. Through international sports, The Department of State sees the proliferation of messages of international understanding, cultural tolerance and mutual respect.
The Sports Diplomacy Program is an International Sports Programming Initiative designed to work at the grass roots level to aid non-elite youth, ages 7-17, in discovering how success in athletics can be translated into the development of life skills and achievement in the classroom. The Initiative provides the foreign participant an opportunity to establish linkages with U.S. sports professionals and exposure to American life and culture. The experience also provides Americans the opportunity to learn about foreign cultures and the challenges young people from other countries face.
The Turkmenistan delegation included 12 participants (10 players (5boys and 5girls 14-16) and 2 coaches. Turkmenistan (Turkmen: Türkmenistan; also known as Turkmenia) is a Turkic country in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR). It is bordered by Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the southwest, Uzbekistan to the northeast, Kazakhstan to the northwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west.
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