AMBASSADOR'S OUTREACH

Ambassador Joins with NBA to Encourage Integration

Summer Jam 2007 Ambassador Foley at the event supporting a joint program by the NBA, Basketball Ireland, University of Delaware and the US Embassy.

“Integration is key to maintaining a strong economy” commented Ambassador Thomas C. Foley at an event in his residence supporting a joint program by the NBA, Basketball Ireland, University of Delaware and the US Embassy.  The program called “Summer Jam 2007” consisted of a series of basketball clinics in local communities around Ireland, culminated by a final tournament in Dublin.  The finals in Dublin were run by NBA Washington Wizards Roger Mason, Jr. and Calvin Booth. 

Ambassador Foley hosted a reception at his residence for the participants and supporters of the program. The past 10 years have seen Ireland go from a country of net emigration to a country of net immigration.  Many of the new Irish residents come from non-English speaking countries with different religious and cultural backgrounds.  Although they have found work in Ireland, they often find it difficult to integrate into their new communities. Sports can be used as a mechanism to bridge those differences.

Summer Jam 2007 Ambassador Foley hosted a reception at his residence for the participants and supporters of the program

The clinics gave an opportunity to young people from all backgrounds to come together and have a good time.  At the clinics they learned about teamwork, cooperation and to judge people by their abilities rather than their cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  Wizards player Roger Mason, Jr. said they he and Calvin Booth were happy to take time during their season break to talk to young people about basketball and using their participation in the sport to build a future and community.

The Federation of Irish Sport was a key player in organizing Summer Jam   and they thanked the Ambassador and Embassy for their support of this important outreach program.