|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
UD basketball initiative rolls into Cape Verde
10:24 a.m., Jan. 23, 2007--The University of Delaware International Basketball Initiative worked in partnership with a number of agencies to sponsor a basketball clinic with a message against corruption in conjunction with International Anti-Corruption Day on Dec. 9 in Cape Verde, an island republic off the coast of western Africa. UD partnered with the regional office for West and Central Africa of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks, Sport for Education and Economic Development (SEED) and the government of Cape Verde to hold the event, according to Matthew J. Robinson, associate professor of sport management and director of the UD International Basketball Initiative. Rolando Blackman, NBA legend and current front office executive of the Dallas Mavericks, and Amadou Gallo Fall, Mavericks director of scouting and executive director of SEED, traveled to Cape Verde and were joined by Senegalese women's basketball coach and UD International Basketball Initiative participant Fatou Kiné Ndiaye to serve as leaders of the clinic, which involved 150 selected youngsters from secondary schools and the Cape Verdean Basketball Federation. The opening ceremony included the participation of Jose Manuel Andrade, the Cape Verdean minister of justice; Amado Philip de Andres, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime deputy regional representative for West and Central Africa; and Patricia de Mowbray, the U.N. system coordinator in the archipelago. “The event was a huge success in terms of communicating a positive message to youth,” de Andres, who organized the event, said. “Mr. Blackman and Mr. Fall and Mrs. Ndiaye are such positive role models for the youth. They have demonstrated that through hard work and education anything can be accomplished. We can not thank them enough for their efforts.” “We are glad we were able to contribute and to work with great organizations and people,” Robinson said. “Amadou, Rolando and Fatou are true ambassadors of the game of basketball and great human beings. Their efforts in encouraging youth to live their dreams are inspiring. It also was an honor to work with the U.N. on this project.” Those in attendance heard messages from Blackman, Fall and Ndiaye pertaining to the U.N. slogan "You Can Stop Corruption" and the national slogan "Jogo Limpo, Não a Corrupção" (Fair Play, No to Corruption). They also emphasized the importance of education to the children along with the basketball skills taught. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime working alongside the University of Delaware and SEED, aim to duplicate the success of the Cape Verde session when they sponsor an International Day Against Drugs basketball event in Dakar, Senegal, in June. On the horizon is a "Basketball Against Uncivil Behaviors Tour" that will take place in six yet to be announced West and Central African nations during the second half of 2007. Article by Neil Thomas |
|
|
