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Thursday 10 June 2010 – The Embassy of Saint Lucia in the United
States is spearheading a major Sports initiative to provide international
exposure and new opportunities to young athletes in Saint Lucia. As part of this
initiative an Under 18 Basketball team from Saint Lucia is expected
to participate in the 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers Continental Cup in Cleveland,
Ohio, July 1st to 4th, 2010.
The Continental Cup is an international youth sports festival featuring such
events as the AC Milan Continental Cup, a premier international youth soccer
tournament, as well as a Continental Cup Basketball tournament.
The Continental Cup, now in its fifth year, has grown to become one of the
largest annual international multi-sport youth festivals in the world. More than
3500 athletes from 18 countries will participate this summer in four days of
outstanding competition. There will be an Olympic-style Opening Ceremony and
various other activities have been planned for the athletes. These include
cultural exchanges, entertainment and site-seeing tours.
Over the past several months Saint Lucia’s US Ambassador Dr. Michael Louis has
been in discussions with officials of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission on
Saint Lucia's participation in this event. The Embassy has been able to secure
financial assistance to cover full costs of accommodation for a Saint Lucia
Under18 Basketball Team. The accommodation package covers lodging, linens,
breakfast, dinner and entertainment from Tuesday June 29th, 2010 to July 5th,
2010.
In his letter to Ambassador Louis on April 7th, 2010 Tournament Director George
Nanchoff noted: " it will be a great honor to work with the U.S. Embassy of St.
Lucia and St. Lucia Ministry of Social Transformation, Youth and Sports to
provide athletes in the near and far future with the opportunity to participate
against the top soccer and basketball teams from across the United States and
around the world in Cleveland."
Minister for Social Transformation, Youth and Sports, The Hon. Leonard Montoute
who is expected to attend the tournament in welcoming this breakthrough
commented: “I am elated at this development. This will no doubt serve as a boost
to our young athletes. If we want to become competitive on the world scene, we
must expose these athletes to the international conditions and standards that
those who are within the professional leagues are exposed to. We will continue
to search for the opportunities and the enabling environment to motivate our
young athletes towards attainment of international standards. This initiative is
a welcomed one. We have great hope and confidence that our basketballers will
take full advantage of the experience. My expectation is that they will
transform the benefits gained into meaningful improvements in the execution of
their sporting discipline on their return.”
The Saint Lucian Embassy through the efforts of its Ambassador has also been
able to secure full sponsorship for the O. E. C. S. Sports Desk through its
Director to facilitate attending the AC Milan Continental Cup event.
The Government of Saint Lucia through its US Embassy and the Ministry of Youth
and Sports looks forward to ensuring that Saint Lucia’s participation in this
major international event becomes an annual experience. The Government is
further committed to building on this exciting opportunity, in facilitating
further exposure for the benefit of budding and talented young Saint Lucian
sports persons.
CONTACT: Michael “Midget” Pierre – 720-9905/286-7823
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