The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the National Basketball Association (NBA), have delegated the Coordinator for International Basketball Operations at the NBA and the former player, six-time WNBA All-Star, Nykesha Sales, as Sports Envoys to Haiti from June 9 through June 14. The Sports Envoys will be accompanied by the Sacramento Kings' center Samuel Dalembert to conduct workshops of basketball to the Athlétique d'Haiti for youth and adults on the occasion of the annual week of the Haitian children initiated by UNICEF. They will also organize a workshop with 50 trainers/coaches in the Haitian Police Academy.

Tomorrow morning, the delegation of American professional basketball players will give a press conference to the local of the Haitian-American Institute located on the Champ de Mars. Will also be present, officials from the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, representatives of the NBA, the Ministry of Youth and Sport and of the UNICEF.

Athletes will also meet young people living in disadvantaged areas and youth in conflict with the law in Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien. A workshop on the use of "Sport as a tool of success" will be held at the College Modèle of Cap-Haitien.

Sports Envoys are current and retired professional athletes and coaches that travel overseas to conduct drills and team building activities, as well as engage youth in a dialogue on the importance of education, positive health practices and respect for diversity. In partnership with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' SportsUnited Office, 42 NBA and WNBA players and coaches have visited 19 different countries since 2004, where they have conducted basketball clinics for thousands of young boys, girls and coaches.

HL/ HaitiLibre