REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Fourteen 14 participants from madrasahs, pesantrens, and SMUs in Indonsia are selected to join US Sports Visitor Youth Program, sponsored by the US embassy in Jakarta and the Office of Citizen Exchanges in State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
The participants will travel to the US from March 15 to 27, 2013 for a 10- to 14-day sports-themed program involving training, nutrition, fitness, life skills, conflict resolution, disability sports, and exposure to the American perspective on sports. During an event at @america on Wednesday, Vice Minister of Sports, Suyadi Parwiro, said that the program offered a big opportunity for students to learn about sports in US.
"Sport played significant role in building partnership among countries," he said.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Susan Stevenson, said students participating in this program would experience sport as well as diversity. She believes that sport can bridge communication between the US and Indonesia.
"Sport is a universal language. You don't have to understand the language if you have the same interest," Stevenson said.
As a former athlete, she believes that sport can help people learn self esteem, leadership and teamwork. Study says business leader are more likely to participate in sport.
This program allows the participants to meet with US athletes and learn from them. The students can share the technique they have learned with their friends in Indonesia. She explained that the goals of this program was to introduce students about the US, hoping them to understand about the culture, and establish a connection with the country.
"Someone who never gone to the US asked me, wheter people with different religions have trouble while playing sport together. I said no, not at all. What matters here is their ability to play and have the sense of teamwork," Stevenson said.
The students selected for this program are assessed not only based on their ability in sports, but also on their academic, leadership and character. Besides Indonesia, US also cooperates with Thailand, China, Mexico, Brazil, Ukraine and so on. US tries to have this program with all countries around the world.
Official from US Embassy, Don Q Washington, explained that this US-funded program was a part of US sport diplomacy with countries around the world. It serves two primary functions, which are mutual understanding between the US and Indonesia and empower Indonesian young people.
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