Former NBA stars Kermit Washington and Purvis Short during a basketball clinic in Jeddah.

In an act of progressive public diplomacy, SportsUnited – an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs – conducted its first Sports Envoy program in Saudi Arabia, July 7-11, 2007. In partnership with the National Basketball Players’ Association (NBPA), Friends of Jeddah Parks and Jeddah United Sports Club; four former NBA and WNBA players – Kermit Washington, Purvis Short, Lynette Woodard and Ruthie Bolton – conducted clinics and competitions for male and female basketball players and coaches in Jeddah, a city on the western coast of the country.

Both the men’s and women’s programs were equally well realized. Participating on the men’s side were ten coaches and 45 players and on the women’s side, 20 coaches and 47 players. Attendees traveled from Jeddah, Mecca and Medina.

The basketball clinics focused on fitness as well as sportsmanship and teamwork. As women’s sports are not officially recognized in Saudi Arabia, these clinics were a unique opportunity for the local participants to meet role models, learn new skills and benefit from the motivational stories Woodard and Bolton shared with them.

The afternoon clinics were split into separate sessions for coaches and players while the evening clinics were reserved for mini-tournaments. U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ford M. Fraker and Ambassador Mohamed Tayyeb, Director General of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mecca Branch – in addition to other local dignitaries – attended the men’s Day Two evening clinic at the Saudi Basketball Federation Arena. The event kicked off with an on-court performance by a traditional Saudi music group.

Local partner representatives from Friends of Jeddah Parks and Jeddah United Sports Club attended the women’s Day Two evening event, a tournament at the women’s basketball court at Gold’s Gym, Jeddah. The women played for 2 hours on the open air court and the highlight of the evening was Woodard’s backward, half-court shot.