UPDATE ON LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL IN CHILE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001636

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA (NBISHOP)
STATE FOR WHA/PDA (DPRINCE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL OEXC KPAO CI
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL IN CHILE


1. SUMMARY: AS PART OF ITS MISSION PERFORMANCE PLAN,
POST HAS INITIATED YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES AS A
GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE INTERACTION WITH NEWER
GENERATIONS OF CHILEANS WHO DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR
TRADITIONAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ELITES. POST WILL BE
REQUESTING U.S. GUEST COACHES AND SPEAKERS TO CONDUCT
CLINICS/CLASSES FOR RECENTLY LAUNCHED LITTLE LEAGUE
CHILE. END SUMMARY.


2. JUSTIFICATION: AS NOTED IN OUR MISSION PERFORMANCE
PLAN GOAL ON MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, POST HAS EMBARKED ON A
SERIES OF ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN AND BROADEN
PARTICIPATION OF UNDER-PRIVILEGED YOUTH IN LITTLE LEAGUE
BASEBALL. WHILE CHILE ENJOYS STEADY ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
IS A STABLE, DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, LIKE ANY DEVELOPING
NATION (OR DEVELOPED NATION FOR THAT MATTER),IT LAGS
BEHIND IN SOME SOCIAL PROGRAMS FOR "AT RISK" CHILDREN.


3. WORKING WITH LIKE-MINDED CHILEAN AND AMERICAN BUSINESS
AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE AMBASSADOR AND MRS. KELLY
LAUNCHED LITTLE LEAGUE CHILE IN APRIL, 2005. LITTLE
LEAGUE CHILE IS CHARTERED BY LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL
IN WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA AND IS BEING GRANTED NON-
PROFIT NGO STATUS BY THE CHILEAN GOVERNMENT. BESIDES A
BINATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS (OF WHICH THE AMBASSADOR IS
HONORARY CHAIR),LITTLE LEAGUE CHILE OPERATES ITS OWN WEB
PAGE AND WILL HANDLE ALL OF ITS ADMINISTRATIVE AND FUND-
RAISING RESPONSIBILITIES AS A SELF-SUSTAINING
ORGANIZATION.


4. HAVING COMPLETED THEIR FIRST SEASON OF PLAY, SEVEN
TEAMS ARE NOW PLANNING FOR A SECOND SEASON. PARTICIPANTS
INCLUDE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD TEAMS FROM SANTIAGO, AS WELL
AS TEAMS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS. THE BOARD
ALREADY HAS PLANS TO INCLUDE TEAMS FROM REGIONS OUTSIDE
SANTIAGO. LITTLE LEAGUE CHILE IS ALSO EXPANDING TO
INCLUDE KIDS UNDER NINE (TEE BALL) AND YOUNGSTERS AGE 13-
15 (SENIOR LEAGUE). LITTLE LEAGUE CHILE PLAYS TWO
SEASONS PER YEAR, IN THE SPRING AND FALL.


5. POST SEEKS ECA SUPPORT FOR SPORTS AMBASSADORS/GUEST
SPEAKERS AND EXCHANGES TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THIS OUTREACH EFFORT. TO DATE, LITTLE LEAGUE CHILE HAS
PROVIDED ACCESS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, MUNICIPAL
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENTS WITH
WHOM WE HAVE NOT HAD MUCH CONTACT. IN AN AGE OF
TRANSFORMATIONAL DIPLOMACY, POST HOPES TO GIVE NEW
GENERATIONS OF CHILEANS AND THIRD-COUNTRY CHILDREN A
CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND HOW AMERICAN VALUES OF TEAMWORK,
GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, AND FAIR PLAY TRANSLATE FROM THE
BASEBALL DIAMOND TO REAL LIFE.


6. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ECA.

KELLY