Day 3: Molding Young Minds and Bodies, Giving Back to Communities
By David Pandt

SHANGHAI, CHINA - June 11, 2006 - The third and final day of Basketball without Borders kept tempo with days one and two, combining the work of molding young athletes as outstanding sportsman and excellent citizens with giving something positive to communities in host countries.

Staying at the Forefront of AIDS Education
2006 marks 25 years since the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of rare pneumonia and skin cancer in gay men, women and IV drug users. Since then, HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has killed more than 25 million people, infected 40 million others and left a legacy of unspeakable loss, hardship, fear and despair.

In China today, 2005 official estimates indicate that there are approximately 650,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Adding to the AIDS crisis, only one in six Chinese living with HIV/AIDS are aware of their HIV status, and are at risk of spreading it to others. What's more, according to projections by U.N. population researchers, China?s numbers could hit 18 million by 2025.

The world has come a long way it knowledge, education and treatment of AIDS. However, experts fear AIDS's worst day could be ahead of us. With that, there's still so much more to be done. Today, in partnership with UNICEF China, the Chinese Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Spalding and the Shanghai Media Group, the NBA announced the launch and distribution of NBA Cares Skills for Life in a Box across China as part of the "Unite For Children, Unite Against AIDS" global campaign by UNICEF.

The Skills for Life in a Box contains interactive HIV/AIDS educational materials for teachers to use as teaching tools with their students, imparting on them the life skills they need to make and form intelligent decisions in life. In addition, each kit will contain basketball equipment to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.

The morning press conference featuring statements of concern and a commitment to continued HIV/AIDS education and treatment in China from Ken Legins, Chief of HIV/AIDS section of UNICEF China; Liao Wenke, Deputy Director General, Department of Sports, Health and Art Education, Ministry of education; Dr. Sun Xinhua, Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Control and Management, Bureau of Disease control, Ministry for Health; and Liu Xiangrui, Deputy Director of Sports, Health, Art and Science, Popularization Division, Shanghai Education commission.

There was also spirited call to keep the fight against AIDS alive from the Philadelphia 76ers Samuel Delambert, a native of Haiti, a country whose HIV epidemic has been long and painful, and a plea from 14-year old youth ambassador Zhao Ying, to do more for the growing population of AIDS orphans in China. Huang Jinwen lost both parents as a result of the AIDS virus, she went then taken in by the Fuyang AIDS Orphan Salvation.

Following the press conference, students were split into groups where they first attended an HIV/AIDS interactive session utilizing the NBA Cares "Skills for Life in a Box", then attended a basketball clinic hosted by the NBA players.

It was in 1991 that NBA superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson shocked the world by announcing his sudden retirement from the NBA in 1991, when he was diagnosed HIV positive. Today, the NBA is at the forefront of HIV/AIDS education for not only players, personnel and staff league wide, but also for the many communities it serves at home and abroad.

Straight Talk on HIV/AIDS
Sunday's BWB life skills session followed the day's overall community service theme of uniting in the fight against AIDS. Ken Legins, Chief of HIV/AIDS section of UNICEF China, along with Jerome Williams, led campers through an entertaining and engaging HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention program. The goal was to help the young men become well-versed in identifying high-risk behaviors for contracting the HIV/AIDS virus, and take that knowledge back home to pass along to their peer groups.

Campers once again broke into their language groups and were given a serious of behavioral scenarios by Legins, such as having sex with a condom, sitting on a toilet seat, receiving a blood transfusion and simply kissing. The groups were then asked to identify whether these situation represented they high, medium or low risk HIV/AIDS behaviors.

Campers confidently - and fairly accurately - reported their answers, reflecting positively on the educational knowledge available to their generation, a generation, having been born around the time of the first World AIDS Day, have been aware of the disease their entire lives.

Legins reinforced among the group the fact that HIV virus cannot live outside the human body at any time; that the virus lives at 98-degrees, and is not an easy virus to transmit. What's more, he reiterated that condoms do not protect people from all sexually transmitted diseases.

As young ambassadors of their respective countries, campers talked openly as groups about the behavioral issues associated with the risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS being face back home. Virtually every country and territory represented - China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia Japan, Korea, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan shared in the social problems that play a role in the spread of HIV/AIDS, including unprotected sex, prostitution, intravenous drug use and perhaps the most high-risk behavior, ignorance.

The message of final life skills session of BWB Asia was that, even though the world is made up of diverse cultures and social environments, the behavioral risks for AIDS/HIV is universal problem that continually needs to be addressed by society.

Truly a Game without Borders
Among the 50 select campers invited to participate in Basketball without Borders, some came from far, others near. For Tian Yuchen, the trip to BWB was a short one, just across town, as the 6?9? forward comes from Shanghai's own Minhang District located in the southwest corner of the city. However, for Malik Nahee, the journey to Shanghai was one he won?t soon forget.

The 6-11 Malik hails from the city of Baghdad, the capitol of war-torn Iraq. He's the first player from Iraq to participate in BWB, while there have been 97 countries represented overall. Malik left Baghdad on June 5 to fly to Jordan to get his visa, only experience a delay in the process that kept him in Jordan till June 7. He then flew to Dubai, from Dubai to Beijing, and finally from Beijing to Shanghai, arriving Friday night. Malik traveled for 144 hours over a five-day period, across four countries and through five cities, altogether logging 6,000-plus miles of travel.

"I was very tired both physically and mentally," said Malik about his arduous journey to Shanghai. "I just couldn't sleep on the plane."

Arriving late and missing the first full day of BWB may have been a setback for most campers, but Malik was able to jump right into the action on the court. In that, he quickly struck up a close friendship with fellow camper, Ali Jamal Zaghab, a 6-8 forward from Jordan. The two were noticeably inseparable for the duration of the camp program, and in fact were both named to the BWB Asia All-Star team, albeit on opposing rosters.

When asked about the overall BWB experience, the two young men had similar responses.

"It's great meeting new people from different countries; and it's great learning new moves from the NBA players," said Ali Jamal.

"For me, I'm learning some defensive moves," added Malik.

As for their favorite NBA team and players, Ali roots for the Dallas Maverick and Dirk Nowitzki, while Malik is a die-hard L.A. Lakers fan whose favorite player remains Shaquille O'Neal, despite O'Neil's trade to the Miami Heat in 2004, after eight seasons with the Lakers.

During the culminating camp All-Star game, both players put their new-found NBA-style moves to the test. Defense was indeed the focal point, as they played each other closely up and down the court. In the end, it was Ali Jamal's team that prevailed in a close 63-58 victory.

Both Malik and Ali Jamal compete on Junior National teams for their respective countries. And despite each being just 18 years old, both have an eye on the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, which just may be their next basketball without borders meeting.

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Day 2: Diplomacy and the spirit of giving take center court
by David Pandt

SHANGHAI, CHINA – June 10, 2006 – Day two of the NBA’s Basketball without Borders Asia instructional camp in Shanghai provided everyone with a true life lesson: that we can always can learn a great deal from young people, no matter where they come from.

In the am session of BWB the 50 young men representing 17 countries and territories across Asia came together in a way that demonstrated the positive impact of sports on societies and cultures. To witness the friendships and enthusiasm shared among so many young people from divergent cultures goes a long way in imparting upon us the importance of unifying programs like BWB.

And while the BWB campers spent the morning demonstrating international unity in their efforts at personal improvement and basketball diplomacy, Saturday’s afternoon session – much like Friday’s Special Olympics Basketball clinic – was beacon to the spirit of giving.

Leadership Begins Young
At the heart of the BWB experience for young athletes is the program’s life skills sessions, where campers discover the importance of taking what they learn on the court and applying it to their everyday lives, for now, and for years to come.

On day two, campers learned about the “Character and Quality Leaders” from the ever enthusiastic Jerome Williams, the Houston Rockets’ Richie Frahm and Josh Childress of the Atlanta Hawks—all outstanding leaders in their own right.

“You have to become better leaders to get to the next level,” began Williams after breaking the ice by leading his audience in a few early morning rounds of signature Junk Yard Dog barks to draw in the campers’ attention. “Your leadership skill ultimately determines where you end up in life; it helps your team win and it helps your succeed.”

“How do you get to the next level?” asked Marwan Ziade, a 19-year old, 6’8” forward camper from Lebanon.

“You work on your weaknesses,” replied Williams, who during his nine-year NBA career was recognized as one of the hardest working players in the league.

“And you learn how to be efficient in how you structure and utilize your time,” added Richie Frahm, whose sharp shooting was perfected only after hours and hours of dedicated practice and focus.

Williams, Frahm and Childress are all the product of three of America’s most outstanding universities, Georgetown, Gonzaga and Stanford, respectively—and all three sociology majors. When asked about how they balanced academic life with basketball, the reply was straightforward and to the point from Williams:

“At the schools we went to, we had to go to class. School is very important – school first, basketball second. You never know how long your basketball career will be, but what you learn in your head, you learn for life.”

While answering questions from campers, the three life skills leaders posited a question to their impressionable audience: “How can you use basketball to change the world?”

Campers broke into small groups and took time for formulate some answers.

“After experiencing the Special Olympics clinic on Friday, we thought about how we can give back in our communities back home,” expressed one group that included three players from India.

A group of players from Kazakhstan had a similar response.

“We can use basketball to help other kids, especially kids with disabilities. We also can use basketball to improve people’s health; teach them to not drink or smoke.”

Player groups from China and Japan also shared similar to one another.

“We can use basketball show and model respect for people both on and off the court,” said the cagers from Japan.

“Basketball teaches people about teamwork, which helps in life outside of sports,” shared the group players from BWB’s host country, China, 12 strong. “Basketball helps teach people about cultural differences. We think this will help China be a better host of the 2008 Olympic games.”

Clearly BWB campers are on their way to developing a growing vision for life beyond the hardwood.

“You never stop learning,” offered Josh Childress in closing the session. “That’s what you should take with you from this camp. Make yourself player and a better person.”

NBA Cares Legacy Project Shoots and Scores Again
Saturday afternoon shone for Basketball without Borders at the dedication ceremony of the NBA Cares Legacy Project at the Fu Sheng School, a school for children of migrant workers, located in Shanghai’s northeast Yangpu district.

The project, sponsored by Haier and Nokia, included the refurbishing of an existing dilapidated campus building into a new NBA Cares Learn & Play Center facility, consisting of a multimedia room complete with 20 computers, a library stocked with more than 2,000 books and the creation of two new classrooms.

Mobile phone giant Nokia proudly sponsored the refurbishment of the school’s basketball court that will provide a safe place for the students to play, while Haier, the world’s 4th largest whitegoods manufacturer and one of China’s Top 100 electronics and IT companies, funded the refurbishment of the Learn & Play Center, including donating Haier televisions and DVD players to the school.

The Fu Sheng school is a special place, educating1400 students in two daily shifts, with the majority of its students coming from migrant families. What’s more, migrant workers themselves support the school.

The center’s ribbon cutting ceremony couldn’t have come on a better day, as the Fu Sheng campus was basked in sunshine and an army of excited young people. Fu Sheng’s school Principal offered a warm welcome to guests and expressed his sincerest gratitude on behalf of the staff, students and families that are part of the Fu Sheng school community.

“Thank you for your support and generosity,” said Principal Li Weimin to the representatives of the project sponsors, government official and a large contingent of Chinese media. “You’ve helped us to build a computer center, library and new classrooms that will give us the chance to see the world. This will leave an ever-lasting legacy, allowing students to become great men and women of our country.”

Following Principal Li’s welcome, Fu Sheng students launched into two colorful dance performances for the their special guests that drew rousing applause from the audience.

Other speeches commemorating the jubilant event included supportive words from Ms. Wan Ming, Wife of the Shanghai Cit Mayor, also sitting on the board of Shanghai Charity Foundation, who pledged to help even more school with special needs similar to Fu Sheng; Mr. Zhou Yunjia, Vice President of Haier, who expressed his company pride in contributing to the NBA Cares Learn & Play Center facility and followed Ms. Wan Ming’s lead in pledging to work with the NBA to build more centers in the coming years; and William Jin, Assistant General Manager of Channel Development, CMO East Region, Nokia China, made a special point of thanking the principal and dedicated staff of the Fu Sheng School for their tireless effort in educating thousands of migrant children.

The ceremony pleased Kim Bohuny, NBA Vice President of Basketball Operation International.

“This is our thirteenth camp,” said Bohuny. “Every camp just gets better and better, and truly brings out our best brand of sponsors to do community work.

“The other great thing is that Basketball without Borders gives back to our international players, and highlights for other NBA players and coaches some of the needs around the world. Before today, most of them didn’t know what a migrant school was or what migrant students and families go through to get an education. This is why the camps are so important.

Orlando Magic forward Pat Garrity, a young man who’s enjoyed a world of opportunities, served as an example of Bohuny’s sentiments as he mingled among the swarms of enthusiastic and adoring Fu Sheng students after the center’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

“It’s truly an honor to be chosen to speak for and represent NBA players here today,” expressed Garrity, contemplating the once dilapidated site where that has been magically transformed in the learning center. “The NBA Cares Legacy Project did a really great job on the center’s building.”

Garrity’s feelings were echoed by a group of young Fu Sheng students who when asked what they thought about the new Learn & Play Center, replied: Piaoliang! –“Beautiful!”

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Day 1: Special guests steal the show
By David Pandt

SHANGHAI, CHINA – June 9, 2006 – The gym at Shanghai University of Sport was abuzz with basketball and goodwill Friday as the NBA’s Basketball without Borders Asia launched its three-day event in Shanghai. The league’s premier global development and community outreach program, BWB is an instructional camp for young people that promotes friendship, healthy living and education with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

Day one at BWB brought 50 enthusiastic camp participants from across Asia together for the first of three life skills seminars, a press conference and photo session for players and coaches with Asia media, as well as heavy dose of basketball for everyone involved. What’s more, the select group of athletes shared court time with more than one-hundred young people with intellectual disabilities as honored guests for BWB’s Special Olympics Basketball Clinic.

Lessons for Life
More than just basketball skills, BWB imparts on its participants a philosophy of hard work and smart choices that they’ll bring back to their communities, serving as role models in the immediate future and perhaps for a lifetime.

Day one’s life skills seminar delivered to campers a message of being part of something truly special, and placed upon them the challenge of taking with they what learn over the next three days and turning it into a positive force for their own lives and the lives of others.

“Your in a unique situation here,” expressed BWB Camp Director and assistant Houston Rockets coach Dean Cooper to a room full of slightly reserved young men who represent the best basketball players 19 and under from more than 17 countries and territories across Asia, including Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan and Korea.

“You have a chance to interact and create friendships, and share with others from different countries. You’re going to see each other down the road; start something positive, which is what Basketball without Borders is all about.”

Getting Down to Business
After the morning press conference and photo session, it was time to get down to business on the court with the basketball clinic. Players warmed up and embarked on a series of basketball skills stations put on by assistant coaches and NBA player participants that would give them a taste the demands and discipline required to compete at an international level.

Being run through the paces by coaches Hank Egen (Cleveland Cavaliers), Mike Wilhelm (Chicago Bulls), and former NBA stars Sam Perkins and Jerome Williams, players quickly picked up the tempo of the morning session. They were pushed and helped along by NBA players Ha Seung-Jin (Portland Trailblazers), Josh Childress (Atlanta Hawks), Matt Bonner (Toronto Raptors), Pat Garrity (Orlando Magic), Richie Frahm (Houston Rockets) and six-time BWB participant Samuel Dalembert (Philadelphia 76ers).

After 90-minutes of work and sweat, the players broke for lunch and drew praise from Camp Director Cooper.

“The stations were great; the best in the last two years,” assessed Cooper. “I attribute this to our coaches and NBA players; and the kids were really focused.”

The Day’s Special Guests
While the morning skills session had an air of seriousness that put campers to the test, the afternoon launched a joyous energetic frenzy that brought smiles to every corner of the gym with BWB’s Special Olympic Basketball Clinic.

One-hundred and ten Special Olympics participants joined in a fun-filled skills session where the spirited young athletes dribbled, passed, shot, dunked (with the help of 7’3” Ha Seung-Jin and 6’11” Samuel Dalembert) and scrimmaged with great enthusiasm; an enthusiasm perhaps matched only by the NBA players themselves.

“The NBA players take great pride in their participation in the Special Olympics session,” beamed Cooper. He added that he was particularly proud of the numbers of BWB campers that took time from the rest period, and impulsively joined in the infectious fun.

“Small things make kids happy; it’s good for our players to see this.”

Peter Wheeler, Executive Vice President of the Special Olympics was also pleased with the event.

“It’s terrific anytime we can get Special Olympics athletes and the NBA together,” said Wheeler. “The NBA started with us in the 70s, and today they’re still showing their continued commitment to community. Our young people not only learn from NBA greats, but their experience increases their level of integrity. And the kids are not only changed, the players are changed.

“For some, this is their first experience coming in to contact with people with intellectual disabilities,” added Wheeler. “Players are often surprised with the experience. The truth is, no matter where you’re from, all people are the same.”