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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (October 17, 2008) - The
Lady Patriots women's basketball team, of Camp Patriot, Kuwait,
played the Kuwait National Women's team in the Zone 1 Gym at Camp
Arifjan, Kuwait, Oct. 17.
The game, arranged by Host Nation Affairs, Area Support
Group-Kuwait, was a way to continue to build upon relations between
the U.S. military and Kuwait.
"The game is part of our Good Neighbor program to build good
will," said Lt. Col. Rodney P. Rose, director, Host Nation Affairs.
"It's a way for us to say thank you to the Kuwaiti government for
having us here.
Before the start of the game, Rose and the ASG-KU commander,
Col. Christopher K. Hoffman, welcomed the guests and spoke of how
important the day's event was for both the U.S. military and
Kuwait.
"This is an example of international sportsmanship," said
Hoffman. "It's a monumental event."
After the welcome, a gift exchange took place between the
command and the Kuwait team as a display of their appreciation.
Once the game officially started, the stands were filled with
cheering servicemembers and a small group of Kuwaiti local
basketball fans in support of the event. Although a majority of the
fan base was made up of servicemembers, the support for the teams
was evenly distributed. All through out the game, the lively crowd
cheered whenever either team scored a point.
The women played two, 20-minute periods and at the end of the
first period, the Kuwait National Women's team held an 11-6 lead
against the Lady Patriots.
The Kuwait Women's team continued to lead the game during the
second half, but not without a fight from the Lady Patriots who,
during the last few minutes of the game, gained several points
reducing the Kuwaiti lead.
However, the Kuwait National Women held on to their lead and
came out victorious, winning 26-22.
"It was a great game," said Mariam Al-Ameeri, Kuwait National
Women team. "The [Lady Patriots] played good, I'm proud of our
girls and I really want to come back."
Despite their loss, there were no hard feelings from the Lady
Patriots. Members of both teams remained in good spirits while
chatting with each other and posing in pictures with fans who
attended the game.
After the excitement and the crowd died down at the gym, the
teams joined together for dinner in the Zone 1 dinning
facility.
A dinner that Seaman Nicole S. Joyner, starting forward and
co-captain with the Lady Patriots, said she was looking forward to
because it would give her a chance to sit down with the Kuwait
women and learn more about them and their culture.
The game between the Lady Patriots and the Kuwait National Women
proved that basketball can be used for more than a means to
demonstrate sports showmanship, but it can also serve as a means to
build bonds between people and cultures.
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