"Buckets" Blake and "Ace" Jackson, members of the "Harlem Globetrotters" team, known as the basketball circus, will visit Lithuania on September 20-24 (biographies attached). The Harlem Globetrotters, also known as Goodwill Ambassadors, have toured more than 120 countries and seen at least 125 million people at their games, which have been around for almost a hundred years. During the visit to Lithuania JAV athletes will demonstrate their mastery of basketball skills interspersed with elements of humor and entertainment. In addition, during meetings with young Lithuanian sports enthusiasts, the Harlem Globetrotters will share advice on bullying prevention and the importance of personality and character development.
At the beginning of the tour in Lithuania, on September 20, the performance of "Buckets" Blake and "Ace" Jackson is planned at the Lithuanian Morning Arena in Vilnius. LKL During the league match between "Lietuvos ryto" and "Pieno szvezdažije". On September 20-24, US basketball legends will visit Zarasai, Visaginas, Ignalina, Šalčininkai, Beautiful and in Vilnius, where he will meet with young basketball fans and present his main social programs "Bullying Prevention Alphabet" and "CHEER - inner strength". (all events children are free; program descriptions are attached below).
"Harlem Globetrotters" is a uniquely American cultural phenomenon that mesmerizes the audience with its extraordinary basketball tricks with elements of comedy. Howard Solomon, Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Lithuania, says that "our communities are stronger when they work together. This vision connects the US Embassy in Lithuania and the Harlem Globetrotters. By working together and showing each other respect, we can achieve incredible results, just like Buckets with Ace!”
The "Harlem Globetrotters" tour in Lithuania is organized by the US Embassy with the Sports Diplomacy Department of the US State Department and the emotional support service "Children's Line". The tour of USA basketball virtuosos in Lithuania is participating in the national social security campaign "For a safe Lithuania" initiated by President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Partners of events in Lithuania: Sostinės basketball school, BC Lietuvos rytas, Vilnius basketball school, Zarasai Cultural Center, Zarasai "Ėuolo" Gymnasium, Visaginas Municipality, Visaginas Cultural Center, Visaginas Recreation Services Center, Ignalina Sports and Entertainment Center, Ignalina Basketball Association, Jan Sniadeckis Gymnasium of Šalčininkai, VšĮ Youth Cooperation Center "EUROPROJECT", Kaunas Gediminas Sports and health gymnasium.
Events and performances during which meetings with media representatives are possible (interviews, photo or filming opportunities):
September 20, 19:00 p.m. - performance at Vilnius Lithuanian Ryto Arena, during the LKL League match between "Lietuvos ryto" and "Pieno styvezdžiai" (Vilnius)
September 21, 10:30 a.m. - "Bullying Prevention Alphabet" and training with Zarasai children and youth (Zarasai Oak High School)
September 21, 14:00 p.m. - "Bullying Prevention Alphabet" and training with Visaginas children and youth (Visaginus recreation service center)
September 21, 16:30 - "CHEER - the power of inner strength" and training with Ignalina's young athletes (Ignalina Sports and Entertainment Center)
September 22 10:30 - "Bullying Prevention Alphabet" and training with the children and youth of Šalčininkai (Salčininkai Janas Sniadeckis Gymnasium)
September 22 16:00 - "Bullying Prevention Alphabet" and training with Kaunas children and youth (Kaunas Gediminas Sports and Health Gymnasium)
September 23 13:00 - "Bullying prevention ABC" and training with Vilnius children and youth ("Lietuvos ryto" arena, Vilnius)
September 23 15:30 - "CHEER - the power of inner strength" and training with Vilnius young athletes ("Lietuvos ryto" arena, Vilnius)
Incoming Harlem Globetrotters:
"Buckets" Blake (Height: 188 cm; Position: Defender; Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona; Number: 15; University: University of Wyoming; Date of Birth: December 9)
"Buckets" Blake was born, raised and still lives in Phoenix, Arizona. His first introduction to basketball was watching the NBA team Phoenix Suns play when he was five years old. He made his first basketball hoop himself. After cutting a hole in his father's hat and turning it upside down, he would accurately throw tennis balls into a homemade "basket". After such practice, he became one of the most accurate basketball players (this ability earned him the nickname "Buckets"). His throwing methods are very diverse, and some of them are highly developed by the basketball player. The player has achieved the Guinness World Record for the most shots per minute in the "grandma" style from the middle of the pitch. He hit six times, one more than the previous record holder. He hit all six shots in even 46 seconds. In March 2016, the Buckets made the best shot from a very high height in team history. Hanging 90 m above the top of Stone Mountain in Georgia, he managed to hit a basket located at the foot of the mountain. Buckets really appreciates working with children and is great Harlem Globetrotters goodwill ambassador. The basketball player hopes that in the future he will be able to open his own gym and help children develop character and self-esteem through sports. He encourages young people to achieve their best and also to be themselves, because trying to be someone else is extremely difficult.
"Ace" Jackson (Height: 163 cm; Position: Defender; Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Number: 1; University: Point Loma Nazarene University)
"Ace" Jackson was never afraid to take bold and difficult steps. When she was six, Ace asked her father to teach her how to play basketball. The girl saw how carefully her father taught her brother this sport. On Ace's path to professional basketball, all her coaches encouraged her to reach the heights - both at school and in gymnasium. “They would open the gyms early so I could work out before classes started. My coaches were devoted to me, and I was devoted to them and, at the same time, to my entire team." The young athlete participated in basketball camps organized by Franklin Handles, a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. He immediately noticed a special talent and encouraged the girl to try her hand at playing in this team. "I always had an aspiration and a desire to help people," the basketball player asserted. "And as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, I can fulfill that desire and change people's lives for the better." Ace played her first two years of basketball at Savannah State University, where she quickly established herself as a good defensive player and a great three-point shooter. She was her team's leading scorer and ranked second in the NCAA at the time. After the girl transferred to Point Loma Nazarene University in California for the last two years of her studies, she again became the team leader and the most accurate three-point shooter.
Harlem Globetrotters Social Programs:
Program for youth "CHEER - the power of inner strength" Created by the Harlem Globetrotters in partnership with the US Department of Education. This is a character development program for 13-18 year olds. for teenagers, which distinguishes the following qualities of strong character: cooperation, healthy mind and body, effort, enthusiasm and responsibility (the English name of the program - the word "CHEER" ("Will") is also an abbreviation that breaks down in this way: "Cooperation", "Healthy mind and body", "Efforts", "Enthusiasm" and "Responsibility"). During the program, members of the Harlem Globetrotters team share their thoughts on these personality development traits and also present the team's unique ball handling technique. Using the magic of basketball and a sense of humor, athletes inspire young people to be guided by these five qualities in life, not to forget them when communicating with each other, with parents and teachers. The conscious development of these character traits encourages children to be more interested in their school, care for each other and prepare for the challenges of independent life. Internal focus and strength encourage young people to feel respect for the elders of their community, develop understanding and respectful behavior between the sexes, reduce the manifestations of violence among young people and help achieve better academic results.
Program "Bullying Prevention Alphabet” prepared in collaboration with the US National Anti-Violence Campaign. The core concepts of the program are action, courage, understanding and compassion. "Bullying Prevention Alphabet" is intended for children aged 6-12, with whom Globetrotters basketball players discuss the main ways of thinking and behaving, which help to reduce bullying. Using their most effective powers of communication with their audience - a well-honed sense of humor and the iconic ball-handling technique perfected by the Harlem Globetrotters - these sports ambassadors teach children about the importance of teamwork. The magic of basketball helps little ones understand how to support teammates, prevent bullying, and transfer this communication model into their everyday lives.
