Cablegate: Kuwait Sports Envoy Program Request

VZCZCXRO8665
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #1750 3570342
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230342Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0462
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001750

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP (BJACKSON), ECA/PE/C/CU (RKEITH), NEA/PPD
(DBENZE), MEPI (CBOURGEOIS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC KPAO IS LE JO KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT SPORTS ENVOY PROGRAM REQUEST

REF: STATE 153793

1. Per reftel, Embassy Kuwait submits the following program request
for American NBA and WNBA sports envoys to come to Kuwait to conduct
a basketball program for Kuwaiti youth. Basketball is a popular
sport in Kuwait that can be played year round indoors. Note: Due to
strict separation of male and female sports in Kuwait, there should
be one male and one female envoy.

2. Objectives and Relation to MPP Goals: The program will be geared
toward non-elite Kuwaiti youth who comprise a key target audience
for Embassy efforts to counter extremism, foster democratic ideals,
and increase awareness of American values. It supports MSP goal #4
"Expand Kuwaiti and American professional and social ties based on
shared core values" and goal #6 "Strengthening democracy, including
the role of parliament, rule of law, and equality for women." The
program's chief objective is to share American values and promote
cooperation through American team sports. Additionally the program
can be a platform to promote study at American colleges and
universities, a key Embassy objective. By including Kuwaiti
females, the program will highlight women's equality in all sectors
of society. By fostering ties between Americans and Kuwaitis, it
will present an ideal opportunity to advance understanding of the
U.S. among Kuwaitis and to build bridges between Americans and the
Mission with non-elite Kuwaiti youth and locally-based institutions.
By promoting the clinics in the local print and broadcast media,
these messages can be amplified to other Kuwaitis, especially its
youth.

3. Partner Institutions and Audiences: Public Affairs Kuwait will
organize this program with two local NGOs, AMIDEAST and LoYAC, as
well as with the Kuwaiti Public Authority for Youth and Sports.
AMIDEAST is an organization that offers English Language instruction
to students in Kuwait. LoYAC is a youth oriented NGO that offers
program to young people to encourage tolerance, an appreciation for
the arts, and social activism.

4. Preferred Project Dates: The project consists of 5 days,
including 3 program days and 2 travel days:

First Choice: March 23 to 27, 2008
Second Choice: November 5 to 9, 2008

5. PROJECTED BUDGET (approximations based on a 2-person group over 5
days):

International round-trip air travel for 2 persons: $4,500
Honorarium for 2 persons x $200 x 3 days: $1,200
Lodging for 2 persons x 4 nights x $291 per night: $2,330
M&IE for Program Days - $105 x 2 persons x 3 days: $630
M&IE for Travel Days - $105 x .75 x 2 persons x 2 days: $45
Equipment rental: $85
Miscellaneous Expenses (Promotional materials, excess baggage fees):
$1,150
Hala Airport Expeditor Services for 2 persons x $30 x 2: $60
Total: $10, 000

6. Contact Information: Please e-mail Tunisia Owens at
owenstm@state.gov or via telephone on +965-259-1100.

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Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
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