NBA AND STARKEY FOUNDATION'S SLAM DUNK IN ISTANBUL

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000914 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SE:PMALIK STATE FOR EUR/PPD:SALTMAN-WINANS;LDAVIS;CGRAFFEY STATE FOR ECA:NBISHOP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SCULKPAOECONTU SUBJECT: NBA AND STARKEY FOUNDATION'S SLAM DUNK IN ISTANBUL Unclassified SIPDIS ¶1. Summary: In the midst of a tense period in U.S.-Turkish relations, there is good news on the sports front, as the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves spent the first week of October in Istanbul practicing people-to-people diplomacy at its best. While the headline event was an exhibition game with Turkey's premier league Efes Pilsen team, accompanying NBA officials, including Commissioner David Stern, made a major effort on the PR front by refurbishing basketball courts and fitting 2000 children with hearing aids, courtesy of the Minnesota-based Starkey Hearing Aid Foundation. ¶2. Consul General Wiener spoke at an Iftar dinner in honor of the visit, highlighting for an audience of three hundred the spirit of American philanthropy and the mission's support for cooperation between American and Turkish NGOs. Although the Timberwolves ended up the victors on October 6 in a down-to-the wire game with Efes Pilsen, prevailing 84-81, the real winners were disadvantaged Turkish youth. The continuing popularity of basketball in Turkey and the success of the summer youth basketball camps sponsored by State's Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) and ConGen Istanbul offer bright possibilities for continuing cooperation in sports diplomacy, civil society cooperation and people-to-people outreach even when dark clouds appear on the political horizon. End Summary. ¶3. The Minnesota Timberwolves took Istanbul by storm the first week of October. In association with "NBA's 2007 Europe Live" program of exhibition games throughout Europe, the "T'wolves" suited up for a friendly exhibition with leading Turkish professional club "Efes Pilsen." Basketball is wildly popular in Turkey, and the 10,500-seat arena where the game was held was nearly sold out. Numerous political and business leaders including State Minister for Sports Murat Baseskioglu and Prime Ministerial advisor Egemen Bagis, had raced from an Iftar dinner in honor of the Prime Minister to attend the game. The NBA used the visit to promote its community outreach initiatives, entitled "NBA Cares," partnering with the (American) Starkey Hearing Foundation to fit 2000 hearing aids for hearing-disabled disadvantaged youth during the week they were in Istanbul. The NBA also sponsored the refurbishing of a basketball court in partnership with Adidas at an "Education Park" run by a local NGO and dedicated a brand new court at a "Learn and Play Center," with additional funding by Turkish Zorlu Holdings. Timberwolves current players and retired NBA greats also attended some of these events. ¶4. ConGen Wiener spoke at a 300-person gala Iftar hosted by Starkey's Turkey chapter for representatives of civil society, business and government. The CG - a native of Minnesota - noted the way sports has provided opportunities in America for people of all backgrounds to cross racial, socioeconomic, gender and religions lines to build communities and teach good sportsmanship. She highlighted that the U.S. spirit of volunteerism, philanthropy and charitable giving are key to the American way of life. She also noted the ongoing U.S. support for Turkey's flourishing NGO sector and the importance of the NBA and Starkey Foundation's donations during Ramazan, a time known for charitable outreach. ¶5. No anti-American spirit was apparent during the actual exhibition game, just a lot of loud cheering by enthusiastic Efes Pilsen fans, who rooted their team on to a superb effort against the visitors, forcing the Timberwolves to play all out down the stretch as a 4th quarter rally barely failed, resulting in a nail-biting loss for the home team, 84-81. Hundreds of children attending the game courtesy of the Starkey Foundation waved U.S., Turkish and Canadian flags (representatives from Starkey's Canadian arm were also there). Retired NBA greats Dr. J (Julius Irving),Clyde Drexler and B.J. Armstrong received a prolonged, roaring, standing ovation from the crowd. The importance of this event to the NBA was evident by the presence of NBA Commissioner David Stern. The NBA is keenly aware of basketball's popularity throughout Turkey and the consumer potential of its growing middle class, and opened its first ever European NBA-Adidas "Concept Store" on Istanbul's famous walking street, Istiklal Caddesi. ¶6. Another crowd pleaser was the NBA's quarter and halftime entertainment. The league went all out to promote itself in Turkey, and the entertainment was a highlight for many. Drawing on a small army of performers and backstage support, supplemented with elaborate props, the shows featured amazing acrobats who, propelled by trampolines, dunked basketballs while coming out of somersaults; NBA cheerleaders; and audience participation contests, mostly related to basketball, with the exception of the bed-making contest between two women from the crowd. (The taller woman won.) ¶7. The T'Wolves visit was widely covered in the press, although mostly from a sports and high-society angle. The game was broadcast live and the gala received extensive coverage. The Efes Pilsen coach was quoted after the match extolling the game and the good sportsmanship that prevailed. NBA and Starkey's humanitarian efforts were given limited mention in connection with the other events. (Apparently the charter flight that brought the team to Istanbul showed "Midnight Express", the Oliver Stone film widely considered anti-Turkish because of its depiction of harsh conditions in Turkish prisons in the 70s. This was reported in the press. There didn't appear to be any follow-on problems, however, and ConGen alerted NBA reps to the sensitivity of the issue soon after their arrival.) ¶8. Following on the success of YEP, Embassy and Congen support of the Turkish Basketball Federation and University of Delaware summer camps this year, the NBA and Timberwolves sojourn in Turkey is another reminder of the place that basketball holds in the hearts of Turks and of its value in demonstrating a positive side of American culture. Basketball has enormous potential for further public diplomacy outreach activities in Turkey. Our experience with the TBF camps in Erzincan and Usak reminded us of the values that can be shared in the context of excellent basketball mentoring by well-chosen American coaches. We see the YEP events as models for future events, and hope that the YEP basketball programs will be continued and expanded in Turkey. Wiener