Nearly two starting lineups-worth of young Japanese baseball and softball players assembled at the U.S. State Department Tuesday to kick off a three-week sports exchange. They met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Hall of Fame baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. and Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Ichiro Fujisaki.
Washington, D.C. - infoZine - Scripps Howard Foundation Wire - “We love Japan for many reasons, but one of them is because they love baseball,” Clinton said.
The players’ visit is part of the State Department’s SportsUnited initiative, which promotes athletics as a means of diplomacy. The program, which started in 2002, sends professional American athletes overseas, brings young foreign sports players to the U.S. and provides grants to American institutions. This is the first SportsUnited exchange with Japan.
The 16 players will participate in sports clinics during their time in the U.S., including one led by Ripken during the annual Cal Ripken World Series at the Ripken Youth Baseball Academy in Aberdeen, Md. They will also attend the Little League World Series, take part in the opening day parade and one of them will throw out the first pitch for Japan’s game Aug. 18.
cClinton discussed the March earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan and cited the Japanese soccer team’s victory over the U.S. team in the 2011 Women’s World Cup as evidence of the nation’s recovery.
“The Japanese people have shown great resilience, and they are pulling together to support each other during this time,” Clinton said. “And sports is a way to bring people together.”Fujisaki expressed pride in the soccer team’s success.
“We were so moved by you and all the American people for the graciousness after our miraculous victory,” he said. “We in Japan are also very much grateful for you doing this for these students from the affected areas.”
Ripken will travel to Japan in November as a public diplomacy envoy, a role he has served previously in China and Nicaragua. He will lead baseball and softball clinics and meet with young people in areas affected by the natural disaster.
“You can relate in sport in a people-to-people way in many different cultures across the world,” Ripken said. “I had a chance to do it China. I had a chance to do it in Nicaragua. Really looking forward to going to Japan. Been there three times, love it, and just can’t wait to go.”