Imphal, MNS: The U.S. Department of State\u2019s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) teamed-up with Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Barry Larkin and Olympian Natasha Watley as U.S. sports envoys to India, reaching Manipur on February 13. ECA designed its first-ever joint baseball and softball program to encourage youth participation in sports in collaboration with Major League Baseball and USA Softball. Joseph (Joe) Logan, a former player with the Montreal Expos organization and coach of the Orlando Reds Baseball Club in the U.S. accompanied Larkin and Watley.
\nSports diplomacy builds on the U.S. Department of State\u2019s public diplomacy efforts. This particular U.S. Consulate Kolkata outreach embraces the use of baseball and softball to bring people together, foster greater understanding, and empower youth worldwide. At the press conference on February 13 and throughout the exchange, local media in Manipur was briefed on how sports can play into the development of academic, leadership, and teamwork skills.
\nThe sports envoys\u2019 fast-paced schedule of activities in Imphal include leading baseball clinics for coaches and youth groups and a softball coaching camp for women at Imphal\u2019s Khuman Lampak Sports Complex from February 13 to 15. Over 200 young people will participate in the various camps and a series of practice games. During the coaching camps Joe Logan, Barry Larkin and Natasha Watley will also interact with local sports administrators, players, Manipur Baseball Association, Manipur Softball Association and NGOs, including First Pitch, that promote youth sports opportunities and academic success.
\nOn her first trip to Imphal, Dy Dir American Center, Rachel Sunden also visited the Manipur Institute of Management Studies in MU on Wednesday, where she spoke to management students on higher education opportunities in the US and strengthening Indo-US relations through cultural exchange. Ms. Sunden also met with Binalakshmi Nepram founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and the writer-activist\u2019s associates of the disarmament movement, visiting Women Gun Survivors\u2019 weaving sites at Malom and Leirenjam Village. Underscoring the U.S. Consulate Kolkata\u2019s support to the global movement of One Billion Rising, Ms Sunden is also scheduled to attend the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network\u2019s commemoration of the day by joining in the celebrations of Manipuri Women Rise to End Violence Against Women on Feb 14 at Hotel Classic.<\/p>\n\n