NBA to visit Cuba
Xinhua, April 7, 2015 Adjust font size:
The NBA is to visit Cuba from April 23-26as the first U.S. professional sports league to the country since President Barack Obama ordered diplomatic relations between the countries to be restored.
The league will hold a three-day development camp for male and female players in Cuba and host clinics for youth. Recently retired two-time MVP Steve Nash, newly elected Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, and former WNBA star Ticha Penicheiro will take part, along with NBA coaches Quin Snyder of Utah and James Borrego of Orlando.
The NBA and FIBA, basketball's world governing body, also will invite two players and one coach from Cuba to participate in an upcoming Basketball without Borders camp for the first time.
Cuba has a long history of basketball and has participated four world championships, but its players' links to the NBA have been limited by a 50-year standoff between Cuba and the United States.
Mutombo, a Congolese-American elected to the U.S. Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday, said "this visit to Cuba will be a fantastic opportunity to teach the values of our game and learn from one another."
The United States and Cuba agreed on Dec. 17 to restore diplomatic ties after more than half a century of tensions and President Obama called for an end to a long-time U.S. economic embargo. Endi