All American Baseball & Softball Coaching Camp at Imphal
Date : February 13-14 2013
at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal

The U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata
invites the media to attend the
PRESS CONFERENCE
to announce the
ALL AMERICAN BASEBALL & SOFTBALL COACHING CAMP
in
IMPHAL (MANIPUR)
on
Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Time: 2:00PM
Venue: Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, National Sports Academy stadium

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has teamed-up Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Barry Larkin and Olympian Natasha Watley as U.S. sports envoys to India reaching Manipur on February 13. Working with Major League Baseball and USA Softball, ECA designed this first-ever joint baseball and softball program to encourage youth participation in sports. Joseph (Joe) Logan, a former player with the Montreal Expos organization and coach of the Orlando Reds Baseball Club in the U.S., will accompany Larkin and Watley.

At the press conference and throughout the exchange, local media in Manipur will be briefed on how sports can play into the development of academic, leadership, and teamwork skills.

The sports envoys' fast-paced schedule of activities in Imphal include leading baseball clinics for youth groups and coaches and a soft ball coaching camp for women at Imphal's Khuman Lampak Sports Complex from February 13 to 15. Over 200 young people will participate in the camp and a series of practice matches. During the coaching camps Joe Logan, Barry Larkin and Natasha Watley will interact with local sports administrators, players, Manipur Baseball Association, Manipur Softball Association and NGOs like First Pitch that promote youth sports opportunities on sports and academic success.

Sports diplomacy builds on the U.S. Department of State's public diplomacy efforts. This particular U.S. Consulate Kolkata outreach embraces the use of baseball and softball—to bring people together, foster greater understanding, and empower youth worldwide.

SportsUnited is the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' division devoted to sports diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State. Since 2003, SportsUnited has brought over 1,000 athletes from 65 countries to the U.S. to participate in Sport Visitor programs. SportsUnited has sent approximately 250 U.S. athletes to almost 60 countries to participate in Sport Envoy programs since 2005.

U.S. Consulate media coordinator:
Ipshita N Banerjee
BanerjeeIN(at)state(dot)gov

Baseball and Softball Programs

1. Press Conference to announce the first American Baseball Camp in Imphal (Manipur)
Date: February 13th
Time: 2PM
Venue: Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, National Sports Academy stadium

2. Baseball Coaching session for beginners and players and Softball coaching for Women
Date: February 14
Time: 8AM-noon
Venue: Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Khuman Lampak Main Stadium

3. Practice Game of three innings of Baseball and Softball
Date: February 14
Time: 8AM- 11:30AM
Venue: Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Khuman Lampak Main Stadium

Additional Program

4. Deputy Director American Center, Rachel Sunden's visit to the Manipur Institute of Management Studies in Manipur University
Date: February 13th
Time: 9AM
Venue: Manipur Institute of Management Studies, Manipur University

Thank you
Ipshita N Banerjee
Informational Assistant — Media Section
Office of Public Affairs — U.S. Consulate General Kolkata