US embassy cable - 05DARESSALAAM980

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000980 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ECA, AF/PDPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, SCUL, TZ 
SUBJECT: GPRA: CULTURAL ENVOY BASKETBALL PROGRAM 
 
1. Summary: The Public Affairs Section organized a 
Culture Connect program that featured two basketball 
cultural envoys, Courtland Freeman and Alvin Green. 
Freeman is a former basketball player and Georgetown 
University graduate while Green is a recent graduate of 
Coastal Carolina University and a former player. 
Freeman and Green participated in  an exhibition game 
and conducted basketball training clinics for young 
Tanzanians. The program was very successful, as it 
generated a great deal of goodwill toward the Embassy 
and the United States, while at the same time conveying 
positive messages to youth. End summary. 
 
2. Dates, Quarter, FY: May 13 - 18, 3rd quarter, FY 05. 
 
3. Description of Activity: Over three program days, 
post arranged for one exhibition game, five training 
clinics, a live radio interview, and a representational 
event. At the exhibition game, Freeman and Green joined 
a team from the Embassy and played against the best 
basketball team in the Dar es Salaam basketball league. 
The game was played as part of a youth basketball 
tournament organized by a local non-profit that uses 
sports to convey anti-HIV/AIDS messages. Although the 
embassy team was no match for the Tanzanians, the game 
was great entertainment for the audience and generated 
a great deal of positive press. 
 
The five clinics included male and female participants 
from several secondary schools, a primary school, and a 
youth centre. Activities included instructional drills, 
team building exercises, and motivational messages from 
the cultural envoys. 
 
4. MPP theme and Audience reached: Mutual 
understanding. This program furthered Post's efforts to 
promote mutual understanding in Tanzania by involving 
youth in our programs. The clinics benefited a total of 
about 150 young players, coaches and basketball 
administrators. The general population learned of the 
program through numerous articles, captioned photos, 
and even a positive editorial in the local print press, 
as well as through a live morning rush-hour radio 
interview on a popular music station. 
 
5. Results: Excellent. This Culture Connect program 
provided Post with an opportunity to engage with an 
important target audience, the urban youth of Dar es 
Salaam, in a way that was meaningful to them and left 
them with a positive image of the United States and the 
Embassy in Dar es Salaam. In addition to teaching them 
new drills for mastering basketball fundamentals, the 
envoys also exchanged ideas about music, the importance 
of education, and the value of hard work in achieving 
goals. One key Tanzanian partner noted that while 
soccer is more popular here, basketball has a younger 
fan base and one that is generally interested in 
American culture. 
 
Post suggests that future programs involving basketball 
cultural envoys include an American coach as well. We 
heard about, and witnessed for ourselves, the dearth of 
good coaches. Coaching clinics would have been an 
excellent complement to the skills clinics and other 
events that were organized. 
 
6. Media Coverage: The program resulted in some 10 
print media placements. The radio interview was aired 
during morning rush hour on one of Dar es Salaam's most 
popular radio stations. 
 
7. Quality of USG support: Good. Post appreciates ECA 
support in recruiting and sending these excellent 
cultural envoys. Post was offered this program on very 
short notice (less than three weeks.) Initial 
information included incorrect dates and incomplete and 
incorrect information on who would be coming from 
Washington. We could have taken better advantage of 
this opportunity if we had better information sooner. 
 
8. Quality of Non USG support: Post was assisted in 
making this project a success by Don Bosco Youths 
Center, Dar es Salaam Basketball Association, Makongo 
and Jitegemee Secondary Schools and International 
School of Tanganyika.  OWEN