Sports Envoy Program

Working with the national sports leagues and the U.S. Olympic Committee, athletes and coaches in various sports are chosen to serve as envoys or ambassadors of sport in overseas programs that include conducting clinics, visiting schools and speaking to youth. The American athletes and coaches conduct drills and team building activities, as well as engage the youth in a dialogue on the importance of an education, positive health practices and respect for diversity.

Photo of Barry Larkin hitting a baseball
Barry Larkin Travels to Taiwan
Former Major League Baseball players, Barry Larkin and Joe Logan, will visit Taiwan from February 1-7, 2010. During the seven day trip, the Sports Envoys will visit Taipei and Kaohsiung where they will conduct six baseball clinics, visit an orphanage and meet with at-risk youth.
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Photo of Michelle Kwan ice skating
Michelle Kwan Visits South Korea
Michelle Kwan will visit South Korea from January 3-9 on her fifth trip as a public diplomacy envoy. During the seven day trip, Michelle will visit Seoul, Pyeongchang, and Goyang.
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Photo of Donna Orrender with a group of basketball visitors from Lebanon
American Basketball Stars Travel to Lebanon
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) SportsUnited Office, in partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), is sending the President of the WNBA, Donna Orender, to Lebanon as a Sports Envoy. Orender, an All-Star in the Women’s Professional Basketball League and an All-American basketball player in college, will be accompanied by former NBA star Rolando Blackman and WNBA player Ebony Hoffman.
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Photo of Jason helping a Ugandan youth player with his shooting technique
Sports Envoys Jason Maxiell and Nykesha Sales Bring their Love of Basketball to Uganda
NBA Player Jason Maxiell and former WNBA player Nykesha Sales traveled to Uganda as Sports Envoys for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. From September 7-10, 2009, the envoys conducted basketball clinics and spoke about the importance of teamwork to more than 335 Ugandan youth between the ages of 10 and 17.The program was conducted in conjunction with the National Basketball Association and the Uganda Basketball Federation.
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Photo of Teresa Edwards and Tracy Murray demonstrating proper stretching techniques during the pre-clinic warm-up
Sports Envoys Bring Their Hoops Knowledge to Mozambique
Former NBA champion Tracy Murray and four-time Olympic champion and former WNBA star Teresa Edwards traveled to Mozambique as Sports Envoys to conduct basketball clinics for over 400 youth and coaches in Maputo, Matola, and Beira, Mozambique. The program, which took place from August 29-September 2, 2009, was carried out by the SportsUnited Office in cooperation with the NBA and the Mozambique Basketball Federation.
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Sports Envoy, Erik Spoelstra, leads a basketball clinic in the Philippines
Sports Envoys Erik Spoelstra, David Fizdale, and Sue Wicks Reach Thousands in the Philippines through Basketball
Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, Assistant Heat Coach David Fizdale, and former WNBA player and St. Francis College Assistant Coach Sue Wicks conducted basketball clinics in the Philippines from July 27 – August 2, 2009. The Sports Envoys ran more than a thousand boys and girls through drills that stressed the importance of hard work and perseverance in an ECA program conducted in conjunction with the NBA and the Philippine Basketball Association.
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Photo of Erick Spoelstra holding up a hand
Department of State Partners with NBA to Reach Out to Youth Overseas
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Sports United office, in partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), is conducting a series of Sports Envoy programs this summer. From May to September, current and former NBA and WNBA players will travel as ECA Sports Envoys to four regions of the world, leading basketball clinics in Qatar, Bahrain, Uganda, Mozambique, Georgia and the Philippines. Read the Players' Bios »
Photo of Sam and Carla observing a training session at a clinic
U.S. Basketball Envoys Score in Qatar
NBA Legend Sam Perkins and former WNBA player Carla McGhee traveled to Qatar from May 27-31, 2009 to conduct basketball clinics for coaches and youth, aged 10 through 17. The envoys also worked with the Qatar Junior Men’s National Basketball Team, members of the Women’s Senior, and Junior National Basketball Teams. The program was conducted in conjunction with the NBA and the Qatar Women's Sports Committee. View Photos »
Photo of Sports Envoys receiving jerseys while in Bahrain.
''Knowledge is Power'' to U.S. Basketball Envoys in Bahrain
Former NBA and WNBA players, Jerome Williams and Andrea Stinson traveled to Bahrain from June 13-18, 2009, to conduct basketball clinics for coaches and youth. The two Sports Envoys taught dynamic techniques and spoke about the importance of hard work to Bahraini boys, girls, and coaches. Read their Blog | View Photos »

 
Photo of Cromwell demonstrating a drill at a soccer skills clinic in Los Yungas
Soccer Envoys Bring their Experience and Knowledge to Bolivian Youth
U.S. Sports Envoys Amanda Cromwell, former Women’s National Team member and current coach at the University of Central Florida, and Jay Miller, former U-17 Men’s National Team coach and current Executive Coaching Director of the Atlanta Fire United Soccer Association, conducted soccer skills clinics for over 900 youth athletes and 55 coaches during their seven-day program in Bolivia. View Photos | Watch Video »
Photo of Michelle teaching an orphan to skate
Michelle Kwan Talks Education, Value of Sport to New Friends in Ukraine
On her fourth trip as an U.S. Department of State American Public Diplomacy Envoy, figure skating champion Michelle Kwan travels to Ukraine. Read Michelle's Blog | Gallery 1 | Gallery 2
Photo of the American Badminton team that will compete in the Fajr International Badminton Tournament
USA Women’s Badminton Team to Visit Iran
The team will compete in the Fajr International Badminton Tournament at the invitation of the Iranian Badminton Federation from February 3-9, 2009.
U.S. Department of State Statement Regarding Cancellation of Team Visit to Iran
USA Badminton Statement Regarding Team Visas to Iran
Photo of students at the Karu school beginning a light workout under the supervision of Sports Envoy Marcelo Balboa
U.S. Soccer Envoys a Big Hit with Nigerian Youth
U.S. Soccer stars Lauren Gregg and Marcelo Balboa returned to Nigeria from November 29 – December 4, 2008 to conduct soccer clinics for coaches and youth.
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Photo of Cal Ripken receiving a baseball – up high – from a Nicaraguan participant during cleanup
Cal Ripken, Jr. Brings Baseball and Fun to Nicaragua
American Public Diplomacy Envoy Cal Ripken, Jr. brought goodwill and the Ripken way of playing baseball to young Nicaraguans on his second trip for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Read Cal's Blog | View Photos »
Photo of Barry Larkin with Colombian youth after delivering an inspirational speech in Cartagena.
Barry Larkin Hits a Home Run with Colombian Youth
Former Major League Baseball player Barry Larkin visited Colombia as an Envoy for the Sports United Program for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. View Photos »
Photo of Becky Bonner starting a passing drill with Kazakh participants
ECA Basketball Envoys Team Up for Successful Programs in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
NBA Legend Sam Perkins and Becky Bonner, Director of Operations for the University of Louisville’s Women’s Basketball program, spent nine days in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan conducting basketball clinics, visiting schools, and interacting with a wide range of students, officials, and athletes. View Photos »
Photo of Erikka Gulbranson celebrating with the girls’ winners of the program’s Beach Volleyball Tournament
Erikka and Ashley Sweep the Beach
From August 11-17, 2008, ECA Sports Envoys Erikka Gulbranson and Ashley Dean taught volleyball skills to young Brazilians in Recife. The two collegiate coaches gave clinics for over 1,200 Brazilians, including public and private school children, university athletes, and members of a Brazilian professional team. View Photos »
Photo of The American team getting ready to play with a cheer
175 Years of Thai-U.S. Friendship Played Out on the Courts
July 2008 marks the 175th Anniversary of Thai-U.S. friendship. To celebrate, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, the NBA, and the WNBA to host the Friendship Basketball Camp. View Photos »
Photo of Former NBA Star Purvis Short during a basketball clinic in Jeddah
SportsUnited Friendship Basketball 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, 2008. View Photos »
Photo of SportsUnited participant showing off his Ripken shirt
Ripken Baseball Returns to China
As a follow-up to Cal Ripken Jr.’s successful visit to China last year as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) sent a team of baseball coaches to Wuxi, China to conduct clinics for coaches and youth. View Photos »