YOUR EXCELLENCY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, AND ALL BASKETBALL ENTHUSIASTS,

EARLIER THIS YEAR I ACCOMPANIED THE OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER, HIS EXCELLENCY YUSUF BIN ALAWI, ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO WASHINGTON. IN THE COURSE OF A MEETING WITH OUR DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD ARMITAGE, THE DEPUTY MADE AN OFFER. HE WAS OVERSEEING A PROGRAM THAT WOULD SEND TWO OUTSTANDING BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO SELECT COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND INQUIRED WHETHER OMAN MIGHT BE INTERESTED. THE FOREIGN MINISTER ACCEPTED THE OFFER. AS A RESULT, IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE AT THE BOWSHAR CLUB TO WELCOME TWO TALENTED AMERICANS TO OMAN.

OUR TWO GUESTS, OMARI FAULKNER AND COURTLAND FREEMAN ARE GRADUATES OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY WHERE BOTH PLAYED FOUR YEARS OF INTERCOLLEGIATE BASKETBALL AT THE DIVISION-ONE LEVEL.

THEIR TEAM, THE GEORGETOWN HOYAS, HAS AN OUTSTANDING REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE AND SUCCESS; ITS ALUMNI NUMBER AMONG SOME OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN PLAYERS IN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL. THEIR OFF-COURT SKILLS ARE EQUALLY REMARKABLE.THEY EMBODY THE MODEL OF WHAT WE CALL "SCHOLAR ATHLETES." WHO DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES BY ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SERVICE.

THEY ARE CONTINUING THIS SENSE OF SERVICE BY PARTICIPATING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S "CULTURAL ENVOY " PROGRAM THAT SENDS TALENTED AMERICANS AROUND THE WORLD TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

WHILE THEY ARE HERE, THEY WILL OFFER WORKSHOPS, CLINICS AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK, FREE EXPRESSION AND FAIR PLAY -VALUES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ALL OF US IN WHATEVER WE DO.

INDEED, IT HAS BEEN NOTED THAT "SPORTS MIRRORS LIFE" IN THAT IT MAY INCLUDE THE THRILL OF VICTORY AND/OR THE AGONY OF DEFEAT, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WELL AS DISAPPOINTMENTS.

I TRUST YOU WILL ENJOY THE PROGRAM HERE AT THE BOWSHAR CLUB. AS THEY SAY IN BASKETBALL, WE THINK IT WILL BE A SLAM-DUNK.