Spurs Brazil
09-03-2008, 07:31 PM
Basketball without Borders Africa: Day One Recap
Posted Sep 3 2008 4:30PM
On day one of Basketball without Borders Africa 2008, the NBA players and coaches were introduced to the history of South Africa and the community of Johannesburg with visits to the Apartheid Museum and Cotlands pediatric AIDS hospice.
For 43 years, South Africa was in the grips of the Apartheid system which classified citizens based on the color of their skin. The NBA players and coaches walked through history starting with the roots of Apartheid beginning with the first settlers through to the peaceful resolution of the modern day government led by Nelson Mandela and the ANC.
The group continued on to Cotlands, a pediatric AIDS hospice in downtown Johannesburg, to tour the facility and visit with the children that live there. Where Cotlands once served as a place to comfort the dying, the organization now thrives as a place where children can live a normal life and receive preventative treatment for their disease. The children showed off their moves at an impromptu dance party in the courtyard - Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs and Thabo Sefolosha of the Chicago Bulls even joined in the fun.
Meanwhile back at the gym, the campers had a chance to take on Caron Butler of the Washington Wizards and Charlie Bell of the Milwaukee Bucks on the virtual court in the EA Gaming tournament. In basketball news, the campers had their first chance to showcase their basketball talent during evaluation scrimmages. Based on these games, the coaches will draft their teams for competition throughout the remainder of the camp.
http://www.nba.com/media/bwb_300_080903.jpg
Posted Sep 3 2008 4:30PM
On day one of Basketball without Borders Africa 2008, the NBA players and coaches were introduced to the history of South Africa and the community of Johannesburg with visits to the Apartheid Museum and Cotlands pediatric AIDS hospice.
For 43 years, South Africa was in the grips of the Apartheid system which classified citizens based on the color of their skin. The NBA players and coaches walked through history starting with the roots of Apartheid beginning with the first settlers through to the peaceful resolution of the modern day government led by Nelson Mandela and the ANC.
The group continued on to Cotlands, a pediatric AIDS hospice in downtown Johannesburg, to tour the facility and visit with the children that live there. Where Cotlands once served as a place to comfort the dying, the organization now thrives as a place where children can live a normal life and receive preventative treatment for their disease. The children showed off their moves at an impromptu dance party in the courtyard - Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs and Thabo Sefolosha of the Chicago Bulls even joined in the fun.
Meanwhile back at the gym, the campers had a chance to take on Caron Butler of the Washington Wizards and Charlie Bell of the Milwaukee Bucks on the virtual court in the EA Gaming tournament. In basketball news, the campers had their first chance to showcase their basketball talent during evaluation scrimmages. Based on these games, the coaches will draft their teams for competition throughout the remainder of the camp.
http://www.nba.com/media/bwb_300_080903.jpg