Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United States embassy to Indonesia will sponsor a `Celebrating Diversity in American Sports` program with 100 students participating from nine high schools in Bekasi, located in Jakarta`s outskirts.

The program will be held on February 9, 2012 and includes 50 male and 50 female students. The students will learn about basketball and soccer and demonstrate how sports plays an important part in American culture, including promoting diversity, according to the press statement received here, Wednesday.

American sports have been an invaluable tool for promoting equality among different races, genders, and religions.

College sports programs, for example, have helped breakdown stereotypes about women, and professional sports played a significant role in racial integration.

The six-month sports program will be held at the Coca-Cola Amatil facilities in Bekasi.

After the launch ceremony, students will tour the Coca-Cola bottling plant.

In addition to on-field activities, students will also receive instruction on leadership skills, good sportsmanship, and teamwork.

The "Celebrating Diversity in American Sports" program is run in cooperation with the Asian Sports Academy (ASA) Foundation, which has been working in Indonesia for the past nine years.

The ASA Foundation has reached over 1 million young people across Indonesia through soccer, basketball, and volleyball programs, partnering with international donors such as the U.S. Government and world-famous sports clubs.(*)

A050/INE/A014

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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