VZCZCXRO7383
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #2087/01 1561018
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051018Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4919
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002087 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (DBERNS), NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY, DBENZE) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL KU
SUBJECT: AMERICAN COACHES SHOOT HOOPS WITH YOUNG KUWAITIS DURING 
OPERATION HARDWOOD II 
 
REF:  05 KUWAIT 4127 
 
¶1. Summary:  Twelve NCAA basketball coaches conducted a basketball 
clinic for 40 Kuwaiti boys and a separate clinic for 17 Kuwaiti 
coaches on May 25, 2006, as part of the Embassy's highly successful 
outreach program targeting Kuwaiti youth through sports programming. 
 Embassy Public Affairs coordinated the visit with the Public 
Affairs Office at the Coalition Forces Land Component Command 
(CFLCC) at Camp Arifjan.  Kuwaiti press universally published 
positive reports on the clinics, which also were covered by FOX 
Sports. End Summary. 
 
Engaging Kuwaiti Youths through Hoops 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  On Thursday, May 25, 2006, Kuwait Public Affairs arranged for 12 
NCAA Basketball coaches participating in "Operation Hardwood II" to 
offer a boys basketball clinic and coaches' clinic at the Al-Kuwait 
Sports Club in downtown Kuwait.  "Operation Hardwood II" is a USO 
program which arranged for NCAA coaches to coach American servicemen 
in Kuwait during a basketball tournament at Camp Arifjan during the 
last week of May 2006. 
 
¶3.  The Al-Kuwait Club's basketball stadium was packed with 40 
Kuwait players aged 12 to 14 from three Kuwaiti sports clubs, 
downtown's Al-Kuwait and Al-Arabi clubs and the Al-Sahel Club from 
Kuwait's periphery.  Dressed in their club's jerseys or NBA jerseys, 
the players were thrilled to be trained by these top-notch American 
coaches.  Each player visited one of six stations for five minutes, 
where two of the NCAA coaches conducted shooting, dribbling, defense 
and other drills. 
 
Legendary Coaches Bond with Kuwaiti Boys 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  The Ambassador observed the clinic, met the young Kuwaiti 
players and thanked the American coaches for coming to downtown 
Kuwait to conduct the sporting event.  The participating coaches 
were:  Rick Barnes (Texas), Jay Bilas (ESPN, former Duke player), 
Jim Crews (West Point), Mark Gottfried (Alabama), Tom Izzo (Michigan 
State), Billy Lange (Naval Academy), Bobby Lutz (UNC-Charlotte), 
Reggie Menton (Air Force Academy), Dave Odom (South Carolina), 
Kelvin Sampson (Indiana), Tubby Smith (Kentucky), and Gary Williams 
(Maryland).  FOX Sports reporter Leeann Tweeden recorded the clinic 
for future airing on "Best Damn Sport Show Period."  Additionally, 
coaches Odom and Lange held a clinic for 17 Kuwaiti basketball 
coaches.  Participating coaches received Embassy certificates and 
players eagerly donned t-shirts they received featuring the American 
and Kuwaiti flags. 
 
Media Coverage 
-------------- 
 
¶5.  The boys and coaches clinics received significant upbeat press 
coverage.  In addition to covering the event, FOX Sports taped a 
quote from the Ambassador on the importance of engaging young 
Kuwaitis through sports for airing on their sports talk show, "Best 
Damn Sports Show Period."  Press coverage details follow: 
05/25/06 
--Kuwait Times, pg. 6, 1/8 page, 1 photo, circ. 35,000, English 
05/26, 
--Al-Qabas, pg. 40, 1/4 pg., 2 photos, circ. 65,000, Arabic 
--Al-Seyassah, pg. 43, 1/8 pg., 1 photo, circ. 45,000, Arabic 
--An-Anbaa, pg. 29, 1/4 pg., 3 photos, circ. 40,000, Arabic 
--Kuwait Times, pg. 31, 1/8 page, 2 photos, 35,000, English 
 
Reaching Young Kuwaitis via Sports 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Comment:  Sports outreach is as an outstanding vehicle with 
which to reach non-elite youth audiences.  More opportunities for 
engaging young Kuwaiti boys and girls through sports and contact 
with American athletes would be most welcomed.  Sports are seen as 
transcending nationality and culture by stressing common values: 
personal development, hard work, honest competition, and teamwork. 
Kuwait Public Affairs has had multiple successes in building bridges 
with young male and female Kuwaitis through sports, thus far with a 
stress on basketball.  The May 25 clinic was the second arranged by 
Kuwait Public Affairs, the first having taken place August 30, 2005 
(see reftel).  A women's game between Club Al-Fatat and American 
servicewomen stationed at Camp Arifjan was held on April 27, 2006 
(septel).  Photos of recent sports events can be found on the 
Embassy's public website at:  http://kuwait.usembassy.gov. End 
comment. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
 
KUWAIT 00002087  002 OF 002 
 
 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
 
TUELLER