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UNIS/NAR/717 |
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CIBA TEXTILES TO CO-SPONSOR UN BASKETBALL CAMP VIENNA, 7 May (UN Information Service) – Ciba Textiles of Austria announced today that it will join the Vienna-based UN International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) as a co-sponsor of "Basketball without Borders," a camp for young players (aged 12-14) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Slovenia and the Federal Republic (FR) of Yugoslavia. Nine National Basketball Association (NBA) players, led by veterans Vlade Divac of the Sacramento Kings, a native of Yugoslavia and Toni Kukoc of the Atlanta Hawks, a three-time European player of the year and a native of Croatia, will conduct a basketball camp in Treviso, Italy, from 29 June to 2 July. "Ciba Textiles is proud to work with the United Nations and the NBA to promote goodwill and to use the sport of basketball as a common language for global peace, friendship and sportsmanship," said Bruno Martini, Ciba’s regional manager for textiles. "At Ciba we believe in diversity and strive to develop the potential of people." "We are pleased that an important international corporation like Ciba recognizes the value of working with UNDCP and its private sector partners to build bridges of hope to the next generation in the former Yugoslavia," said UNDCP Executive Director Pino Arlacchi. Participants will also attend seminars designed to promote leadership, conflict resolution and living a healthy life without drugs. The camp also marks the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse (26 June). Benetton, which owns the Treviso basketball team, will host the players at the team’s basketball facilities north of Venice. The national basketball federations of each country will choose 10 participants in cooperation with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) based on their basketball skills and leadership abilities. Other NBA players participating in the camp include: Zan Tabak (Croatia) and Bruno Sundov (Croatia) of the Indiana Pacers; Peja Stojakovic (FR Yugoslavia) of the Sacramento Kings; Alex Radojevic (FR Yugoslavia) of the Denver Nuggets; Rasho Nesterovic (Slovenia) of the Minnesota Timberwolves; Dalibor Bagaric (Croatia) and Dragan Tarlac (FR Yugoslavia) of the Chicago Bulls. Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Igor Kokoskov (FR Yugoslavia), European basketball players Vrbica Stefanov (FYROM) and Nenad Markovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) also will help conduct the camp. *** For more information, please contact: Zach Messitte, United Nations, messitte@un.org, (212) 963-2710 |
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