CHINA: BASKETBALL - Former NBA All Star player Vlade Divac opens a youth basketball camp in Beijing

International basketball star, and former NBA All Star player Vlade Divac opened youth basketball camp in Beijing on Wednesday(August 9). He will also run training camps in Anshan, and Shanghai for the young players between 10 and 17-years of age. Camp participants will be taught authentic NBA style basketball fundamentals and skills by Divac and his special guest coaches, including NBA Indiana Pacers All Star player Peja Stojakovic. All participants will learn teamwork, physical conditioning, and on-court skills from real NBA players. Every day will feature basketball games and fun contests with the NBA players and other basketball stars. Basketball became an immensely popular in China after the NBA Houston Rockets drafted Chinese centre Yao Ming as their number one draft pick in 2001, but Vlade Divac believes this was just a beginning. " Well, I did a couple(of basketball camps) in Europe, several times in the States, and now in China. I think you(China) are a big nation and you have many people and you should have more players in the NBA, not just Yao Ming", Vlade Divac said. Scrimmages will be held on the first morning of each camp to divide campers into teams.They will then receive training in basketball drill stations on skills such as shooting, passing, dribbling and individual defence. A variety of competition will be held each day after the training session, either as individuals or in teams. The competitions vary from 1-on-1 basketball contests to free-throw or 3-point shooting. Some of the camp participants are youngsters with mental or physical handicaps, but they are not less eager to learn some basketball tricks form the legendary NBA players. "NBA is famous for basketball, and I think this is a good opportunity to learn things about basketball. I am very happy", Jia Sirui said. A three-day training camp is perfect for players of all skill levels, with special activities for all youth, from beginners to advance players. But many admit of being attracted to camp by the chance to enjoy a one-of-a-kind basketball experience alongside former and current NBA All Star players. " While I was surfing around Internet, I red about this training camp. I like Vlade Divac and Peja(Stojakovic) and that's why I joined this camp", Jiang Shengyu said. Camp participants will receive many exclusive gifts, including their own photograph taken with the NBA stars, autographs, and personalized camp logo t-shirts at the end of a programme.

ITN Source | August 10, 2006

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