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The National Basketball Association and Women's National Basketball Association conducted clinics for Special Olympics athletes during the NBA Europe Live 2008 tour this October. The NBA Cares initiative was part of a tour that featured the NBA's Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards playing preseason games in Barcelona, Berlin, London and Paris.
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Players from the NBA's New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat celebrate with Special Olympics athletes after a basketball clinic in Bercy Arena in Paris. |
NBA Cares is the NBA's social responsibility program that builds upon the league's tradition of addressing important social issues with an emphasis on programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes. This year's activities included Junior NBA/Junior WNBA Special Olympics clinics in Berlin, Paris and Barcelona as well the creation of an NBA Cares “Learn and Play” Center in London. All activities were led by NBA players, coaches and executives.
In Paris, almost 70 Special Olympics basketball players took to the court at the Bercy Arena on 8 October to meet players from the Miami HEAT and the New Jersey Nets. After a brief warm-up, NBA players ran skills stations, teaching the young Special Olympics players new techniques and moves. “Even though language is a barrier, the fun of the game is universal,” said Nets center/forward Sean Williams. “It's rewarding to interact with Special Olympics players and to see the joy they get out of playing and us being with them,” he added.
Special Olympics athlete Antony Lelarge, 14, from Tour, France, said, “It is great to meet so many famous players! They showed us tricks with the ball and they were very nice to us.” He, like all of the young players, stood in wide-eyed wonderment as the giants of basketball put them through their paces.
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Brook Lopez of the New Jersey Nets helps a Special Olympics athlete with some fancy ball-handling tricks. Photo: NBAE/Getty Images) |
Special Olympics coach Agnes Jallageas said of her players, “Our players are absolutely mesmerized by the pros! This is an experience they will remember forever.”
“In life, if someone cares about you, it makes you want to do more,” said Dwyane Wade, Heat shooting guard. “Getting out and being active was extremely important to me as a kid. Today, I am happy to give back through this community effort,” he continued.
“This event shows that the NBA is very close to the issue of disability,” said Jean-Luc Bouchaud, Sports Project Specialist, Special Olympics France. “NBA involvement in our program gives us great credibility as a sports organization,” he added.
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Special Olympics players were presented to close to 20,000 spectators. (Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Great Britain) |
In London, on 10 October, a group of Special Olympics Great Britain basketball players from Camden (London) and St Albans (Eastern region) attended a clinic. The Special Olympics players practiced dribbling, shooting and passing with NBA players, like Point Guard Keyon Dooling from the Nets. Special Olympics player Jay Tipping said, “I enjoyed talking and training with the players. I would now love to play more!'”
“NBA Cares gives us all the opportunity to support individuals with special needs. It gives us a sense of responsibility and pride in making an impact,” said Lawrence Frank, New Jersey Nets coach.
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Andray Blatche of the Washington Wizards leads a ball handling drill. (Photo courtesy Special Olympics Germany) |
On 13 October in Berlin, 63 Special Olympics athletes between the ages of 10 and 20, from Berlin, Sömmerda and Hagen, met players from the Washington Wizards at the O2 Arena. Detlef Schrempf, one of Germany's most successful NBA players, joined the Wizards for an afternoon practicing shots and passing on tips to Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics players were excited to be on the same court with the players, bombarding the pros with questions and asking for autographs. Everyone clambered to be in the group photo and be immortalized with their sporting heroes.
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Member of the Washington Wizards cheer on Special Olympics athletes running dribbling relays. Photo: Special Olympics Germany. (Photo courtesy Special Olympics Germany) | “This is so cool!” said Special Olympics athlete Samet Ayar. “I never thought I'd have the chance to meet an NBA player.”
The encounter attracted considerable media interest, including from ARD (German public television), as well as Eurosport and the newswire “Sportinformationsdienst.”
In Barcelona on 16 October, the entire New Orleans Hornets team showed up at a clinic at the Palau Sant Jordi to the delight of 50 Special Olympics players. Hornets center Tyson Chandler and guard Morris Peterson introduced their teammates before the team did warm-ups and then manned three stations for shooting, dribbling and passing. The Special Olympics athletes hung back shyly for only a few minutes before getting into the action with the Hornets. As he did in Berlin, Schrempf, who is retired, joined the pros as they worked with the Special Olympics athletes. “It's always a pleasure to work with Special Olympics athletes and see their emotions,” he said.
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Members of the Charlotte Hornets and Special Olympics athletes get together after their basketball clinic in Barcelona. Photo: Miroslaw Krogulec, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia |
In addition to the clinics, Special Olympics players were invited to watch the NBA Live 2008 tour in all four cities. During halftime, to the thunderous applause of stadium spectators, Special Olympics players were escorted onto the court by NBA legends while photos of the clinics appeared on the big screen. "I have never had such a fabulous experience!” said Tara Gutkowski, NBA Community Relations Senior Manager.
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