Ruthie leads basketball cultural diplomacy mission

Double Olympic gold medallist in the capital

It’s a great news for Bangladesh sports lovers as Ruthie Bolton,  two times USA Olympic gold medallist, is now in the capital in a basketball cultural diplomacy mission.
The 48-year old  American women basketball guard arrived in  Dhaka on Wednesday night to share her long 15-year experience with the Bangladeshi girls who have just started to  who have just started to learn the game.
She came here at the joint partnership of  the American Centre of  US Embassy in Dhaka with Nari Uddug Kendra.
“Mindset, faith and challenge are the three essential things for you to become success in life,” she told the local young cagers while speaking at a news conference at the American Centre in the capital yesterday.
Kelly Mitchell-Clark, Public Diplomacy Officer, Ann B McConnell, Director, American Centre and Mashuda Khatun Shefali, executive director of Nari Uddug Kendra, also spoke on the occasion. Calvin L Hayes, Cultural Affairs Officer of the US Centre, conducted the ceremony.
Ruthie Bolton, who won gold medal in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, will conduct   a four-day basketball workshop.  She will share her experience with programme participants and lead intensive intermediate and advanced skills workshops for young female basketball players during her short but a valuable workshop.
Ruthie, who has 11 sisters and eight brothers, said, “You have to be sincere, keep your concentration and up your confidence level to grow as a fast developing team.”
“Dedication, regular training and fitness can only help  develop your skill,” said Ruthie who instantly becomes a popular figure among her local pupils.
“I’m touring round the world to spread basketball cultural diplomacy and also to make the game popular,” said Ruthie who further stated that this is her  visit to this region (South Asia).
Replying to a query she said she had enjoy more in the Atlanta Games 1996 final while beating Brazil  in the final. Her team faced Australia in the Sydney Olympics final.
She is the first American double Olympic gold medalist athlete to visit Dhaka after single gold medalist boxing legend Muhammad Ali visited Dhaka in 1978. Ali won a gold medal in 1960 Olympics in Rome. Apart from them several Indian and Pakistani hockey players who won double Olympics gold medal visited Dhaka after the emergence of Bangladesh.
Ann B McConnell, Director, American Centre, said she believes this type of training clinic or workshop would help further develop friendship between the two countries.
Kelly Mitchell-Clark, Public Diplomacy Officer, in her brief speech she tried to inspire the local cagers with some encouraging words and advised them to play the game regularly.
Mashuda Khatun Shefali said she is working hard under the banner of her institution to develop the women as self sufficient to defend herself when she face a difficult situation. “My ultimate goal is to bring more girls to sports fields and take part specially in karate, football, cricket and basketball.” Mashuda Khatun said n this phase she selected players from four schools of the city to take part in the basketball workshop.

Ruthie leads basketball cultural diplomacy mission

Double Olympic gold medallist in the capital

Its a great news for Bangladesh sports lovers as Ruthie Bolton, two times USA Olympic gold medallist, is now in the capital in a basketball cultural diplomacy mission. The 48-year old American women basketball guard arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday night to share her long 15-year experience with the Bangladeshi girls who have just started to who have just started to learn the game. She came here at the joint partnership of the American Centre of US Embassy in Dhaka with Nari Uddug Kendra. Mindset, faith and challenge are the three essential things for you to become success in life, she told the local young cagers while speaking at a news conference at the American Centre in the capital yesterday. Kelly Mitchell-Clark, Public Diplomacy Officer, Ann B McConnell, Director, American Centre and Mashuda Khatun Shefali, executive director of Nari Uddug Kendra, also spoke on the occasion. Calvin L Hayes, Cultural Affairs Officer of the US Centre, conducted the ceremony. Ruthie Bolton, who won gold medal in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, will conduct a four-day basketball workshop. She will share her experience with programme participants and lead intensive intermediate and advanced skills workshops for young female basketball players during her short but a valuable workshop. Ruthie, who has 11 sisters and eight brothers, said, You have to be sincere, keep your concentration and up your confidence level to grow as a fast developing team. Dedication, regular training and fitness can only help develop your skill, said Ruthie who instantly becomes a popular figure among her local pupils. Im touring round the world to spread basketball cultural diplomacy and also to make the game popular, said Ruthie who further stated that this is her visit to this region (South Asia). Replying to a query she said she had enjoy more in the Atlanta Games 1996 final while beating Brazil in the final. Her team faced Australia in the Sydney Olympics final. She is the first American double Olympic gold medalist athlete to visit Dhaka after single gold medalist boxing legend Muhammad Ali visited Dhaka in 1978. Ali won a gold medal in 1960 Olympics in Rome. Apart from them several Indian and Pakistani hockey players who won double Olympics gold medal visited Dhaka after the emergence of Bangladesh. Ann B McConnell, Director, American Centre, said she believes this type of training clinic or workshop would help further develop friendship between the two countries. Kelly Mitchell-Clark, Public Diplomacy Officer, in her brief speech she tried to inspire the local cagers with some encouraging words and advised them to play the game regularly. Mashuda Khatun Shefali said she is working hard under the banner of her institution to develop the women as self sufficient to defend herself when she face a difficult situation. My ultimate goal is to bring more girls to sports fields and take part specially in karate, football, cricket and basketball. Mashuda Khatun said n this phase she selected players from four schools of the city to take part in the basketball workshop.