Embassy of the United States of America
Bujumbura, Burundi

Mr. Daniel Doyle, Jr., Executive Director
Institute for International Sport
306 Adams Hall
University of Rhode Island (URI)
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

July 19, 1990

Dear Mr. Doyle:

I am currently Ambassador to Burundi, a small land-locked Francophone nation in East/Central Africa. Burundi is a delightful country; its people warm and generous and extremely hard-working. The country has had a history of ethnic strife, but with our help they are pursuing the democratic process in an orderly and sensitive manner. We are pleased with their progress and are seeking all means, public and private, to encourage the government and broad population to achieve their goals for national unification. We believe these goals can be furthered through competitive sports—especially basketball which in Africa is quite rare.

I was pleasantly surprised to find upon my arrival a keen interest and well-established tradition of American basketball in this country. I have not yet determined when and where it began, but it is played as a competitive sport in all secondary schools, the university and among private groups. The country boasts a national Basketball Association; however, at this time, they have not yet established a professional team. Burundi is a nation of extraordinarily tall, lithe people, perhaps the reason that basketball is so popular. They are naturals for the sport.

The Embassy team just finished fourth (out of four) in a national tournament sponsored by the Burundian American Friendship Association. I attended the matches, and was greatly impressed by the agility and sportsmanship exhibited by the Burundian teams. A public appeal was made to me at that time by the Minister of Transportation (Secretary General of the NBA) for assistance for the sport: e.g., short- and long-term basketball coaches, training opportunities in the United States and/or a tour by their best team, and all types of basketball equipment.

I am writing you with the hope that your organization might be able to assist us in this endeavor. The Burundi people would be pleased with anything you can offer from basketballs and nets to coaches and jerseys. I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience on potential possibilities. Please accept my very best wishes for the continued success of your organization.

Sincerely yours,

Cynthia Shepard Perry
Ambassador