NBA “Play for Peace:” July 30-31
OTISFIELD, MAINE | Basketball stars from the National Basketball Association (NBA) along with a former NBA coach will hold a clinic, “Play for Peace,” at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, Maine on July 30-31.
Players and coaches confirmed to attend include Antawn Jamison, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Brent Barry, Carlos Boozer, and Don Casey. The celebrity players will be welcomed at the Seeds of Peace camp by Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Qatari, Greek, Turkish and Cypriot youth who are currently attending the camp’s second session and learning how to live in coexistence with their “enemy.”
Beyond teaching basketball fundamentals, the “Play for Peace” clinic will help these youth from conflict areas understand the value of teamwork and cooperation, as enemies become teammates on the basketball court.
“Play for Peace” is being organized by Arn Tellem, President and CEO of SFX Basketball Group, and agent for Jamison, Dunleavy, Barry, and Boozer. Tellem is an ardent supporter of Seeds of Peace, and his son, Mike, is a camper this session as part of the American delegation.
“Against a backdrop of daily news reports that detail new terror alerts or violence in the Middle East, it’s important that the players can do their part to promote understanding and coexistence,” commented Tellem.
“The visit will not only be exciting for the camp participants, but it will also be an eye-opening experience for the players, as life in the NBA often forces them to confront issues relating to race.”
Don Casey, former coach of the New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers who has led similar clinics in Bosnia, Haiti, and Ecuador, will run the Seeds of Peace clinic, with NBA stars including Antawn Jamison and Mike Dunleavy, Jr. of the Golden State Warriors, Brent Barry of the Seattle Supersonics, and Carlos Boozer of the Cleveland Cavaliers. B.J. Armstrong, a former player and assistant GM with the Chicago Bulls, will also attend. The players will work with the campers on basketball fundamentals, teamwork drills, and will hold a variety of contests. The clinic is being co-sponsored by Spalding, Adidas, and Lifetime Products.
“Sports, and in particular, basketball, is a very important part in the camp experience,” said Tim Wilson, Camp Director of the Seeds of Peace Camp.
“On the court, teenagers are forced to confront the hatred that makes them hesitate to pass the ball to their Israeli or Palestinian teammate. They have to learn to work together, and trust the person whom they’ve been taught is the enemy, if they want to succeed. The visit of NBA players will be an important and exciting way to learn these lessons.”
Since 1993, Seeds of Peace has graduated more than 2,000 teenagers representing 22 nations from its internationally recognized conflict-resolution program. The Seeds of Peace program brings hundreds of youth identified by their governments as among the best and brightest to live together at three consecutive month-long summer programs. Through the summer-long programs, participants develop empathy, respect, communication/negotiation skills, confidence, and hope – the building blocks for peaceful coexistence.