"Organizers plan new games to let world’s teens team up"

B.G. Gregg
USA Today
March 31, 1992

<< Back to all press articles

Imagine this: In 2010, the president of the small African country of Burundi needs a loan to buy his citizens food and supplies. He is turned down because the country is a credit risk.

An old friend, an influential banker in Japan, hears of his plight and calls some friends together to loan money to Burundi.

The connection between a banker in Japan and the president of Burundi? They were doubles partners on a tennis team in the first World Scholar-Athlete Games back in 1993.

Games organizer Wally Halas uses that as an example of what could happen.

"We want to get them thinking not of their countries' needs, but of the world's needs," Halas said.

Halas is working for Dan Doyle, executive director of the Institute for International Sport. Doyle and the institute have been working to promote sports worldwide since 1986.

The institute, which has such dignitaries as Joe Paterno on its board, is involved in Catholic-Protestant soccer programs in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Sports Corps in undeveloped African countries; and National Sportsmanship Day in the USA.

The World Scholar-Athlete Games, June 20-July 1, 1993, is an extension of that work. Halas is hoping to get 2,000 teens, ages 16-19, from around the world to come to Newport, RI, for the Games.

Once there, they will participate in four sports: basketball, volleyball, tennis and soccer.

This is not an imitation Olympics. The students play on teams with students from other countries. There will be no thought of nationalism, only of improving communications, Halas said.

"These kids are the brightest and they will move into positions of leadership," he said. "The real goal is to target future leaders of the world."

Athletes won't be the only ones asked to participate. Doyle said the Institute is also looking for artists, writers, and singers from the countries involved. The singers will cut an album, and the artists and writers will create works showcasing life in their country and concentrating on the five themes of the Games: environment, world peace, international commerce, drug abuse, and sportsmanship.

Halas would like to get students from all 50 states and all 174 countries. He said he has commitments from more that 60 countries.

The cost to the student will be $385, for room and board. Lou Marciano, district governor for Rotary Clubs in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, said Rotary International would like to help with some of the costs.

"If someone tells us they would like to send a youngster and can't send the money, we're asking Rotary districts all over the world to help out," Marciano said.

For information, write Scholar-Athlete Games, 3045 Kingstown Road, Kingston, RI 02889

<< Back to all press articles