May 30, 2014

Colombia Takes Its ‘Sports Diplomacy’ Initiative to Oregon and California

As part of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ cultural diplomacy efforts,15 young female athletes from El Bagre and Santander de Quilichao, Colombia, are visiting the United States this week and next to participate in two track and field exchanges in Eugene, Oregon, and San Francisco, California. Both exchanges are a part of Colombia’s Diplomacia Deportiva, or Sports Diplomacy, initiative, which sends student athletes from Colombia abroad to play sports with their counterparts around the world. The Eugene and San Francisco exchanges began on Wednesday, May 28, and will conclude on Wednesday, June 4, and were coordinated by the Ministry, the Embassy of Colombia in the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, the Government of Antioquia and the mayors of El Bagre and Santander de Quilichao. The 15 young athletes practice a number of sports, including shot put, javelin, running and long jump, among others. During their visit to the United States, the young athletes will:

• Meet Allyson Felix, U.S. Olympic champion; • Attend the 2014 Prefontaine Classic Diamond League

and train at the Hayward Field in Eugene; • Visit the Nike headquarters in Eugene; • Participate in friendly competitions with the MacCanDo

Tenderloin Youth Track Club in San Francisco; and • Visit San Francisco’s famed Golden Gate Bridge.

What ’ s News

Photo:  Colombian  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  María  Ángela  Holguín  meeting  with  the  15  athletes  before  they  departed  for  the  United  States.  Photo  Credit:  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  

Photo:  The  athletes  in  Eugene,  OR.  

Photo:  The  athletes  meet  Mo  Farah,  British  international  track  and  field  athlete  and  Olympic  champion,  at  Nike  headquarters.  

While meeting with the young women earlier this week, Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs María Ángela Holguín reminded each of them of the importance of enjoying every moment of the sports exchanges, and stated, “The idea with this initiative of Sports Diplomacy is to open minds and [allow these young people to] realize that the world gives one many opportunities.” The Sports Diplomacy initiative is a facet of Colombia’s Promotion Abroad Plan and its comprehensive ‘Children and Adolescents with Opportunities’ plan – two programs that promote sports as a means for social inclusion, intercultural dialogue and peaceful coexistence. The initiative also aims to promote healthy lifestyles among young people, improve academic achievement and provide participants with exposure to the world around them. The effort has taken delegations of young people from Colombia to 17 countries around the world, including Australia, Chile and Germany, among others, to play a variety of sports, including:

• Rugby • Soccer • BMX biking • Volleyball   • Basketball

During these exchanges, youth have the opportunity to meet world-renowned athletes and coaches, visit stadiums and sports facilities, watch professional matches, practice their sport in local high schools and universities and many other activities that enrich them socially and culturally. As of today, more than 600 youth athletes have benefited from the government’s initiative.

Get to know Colombia. Learn more at www.colombiaemb.org.

• Track and field • Table tennis • Baseball • Skating