Press Releases

Three U.S. superstar Basketball Players to Visit Zambia

Lusaka
June 15, 2007

LUSAKA - Three U.S. superstar basketball players will be in Zambia 18-21 June as part of a U.S. State Department sports diplomacy program.  Dawn Staley, a three-time Team USA Olympic gold medalist, three-time Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) all-star, and now head coach of the Temple University Women’s Basketball team, will lead the delegation.  She will be joined by Olympic gold medalist and WNBA all-star Carla McGhee, and a former collegiate all-American, Angela Wells.

 

The group will conduct basketball clinics and workshops on lifestyle issues such as education, healthy living, and HIV/AIDS prevention for over 100 hundred students from Lusaka area schools.  The women will also conduct a workshop on coaching techniques and principles.  The clinics and workshops will be held at the National Sports Development Center and the Looter's Den Community Court.

 

The program is a part of the U.S. Embassy’s sports diplomacy efforts.  “Sports diplomacy is one of the tools we can use to connect with young people,” says U.S. Public Affairs Officer Christopher M. Wurst.  “We hope that by bringing premiere athletes to talk to young players, we can build basketball skills, team camaraderie, and self-esteem.  At the same time, we want to share a vital part of U.S. culture while also instilling important life lessons.”

# # #