Media Note
American Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., will be traveling to the Czech Republic from April 21-25 as a State Department Sports Envoy, part of the Department’s effort to strengthen people-to-people ties as part of U.S. Embassy Prague’s year-long Centennial Celebration of U.S.-Czech relations.
In partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Czech Baseball Association, Ripken will travel to the cities of Prague, Pilsen, and Brno to conduct clinics for kids, meet with coaches and local officials, and hold public discussions on the game of baseball.
During the visit, Ripken will introduce the sport of baseball and donate baseball equipment to Roma communities in Prague. He will also meet with the Czech Olympic Committee and open a baseball exhibit at the famous Pilsen Brewery.
“This is an exciting trip and I’m honored to have the opportunity to teach the game I love, while embracing the culture of the Czech Republic. I look forward to meeting everyone and learning more about how we can help grow the game of baseball internationally,” said Ripken.
In addition to his role as Major League Baseball’s special adviser to the commissioner on youth programs and outreach, Ripken was also named an “American Public Diplomacy Envoy” by the State Department in 2007. In this capacity he has previously engaged with youth, public audiences and government leaders in the countries of China, Japan, and Nicaragua.
For press inquiries in the United States, contact ECA-Press@state.gov. You can follow Cal Ripken’s visit to the Czech Republic on Twitter (@USEmbassyPrague) and Facebook (U.S. Embassy Prague). To learn more about State Department sports diplomacy, follow the program on Twitter @SportsDiplomacy.
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