Because Baseball nominated to Peace and Sport Awards

Because Baseball nominated to Peace and Sport Awards
06/10/2018

Founded in Cairo, Egypt, by Kemp Gouldin, the project is meant to build bridges within the Middle East and North Africa Regions among families, communities and cultures. Baseball, through its universal language, is used as the vehicle.

Because Baseball is amongst the nominees for the 2018 Peace and Sport Awards.

Because Baseball was founded in Cairo, Egypt, by Kemp Gouldin, a former sales and marketing executive who grew up in Richmond, Virginia, USA. There, in his own words, he “experienced first-hand the power of baseball to bring people together.”
Because Baseball is meant to build bridges within the Middle East and North Africa Regions among families, communities and cultures. The goal is bringing together people of different generations, cultures and even walks of life. Baseball, through its universal language, is used as the vehicle.

“On the field of play differences just melt away and all parties speak in unison the shared, beautiful language of baseball,” commented Kemp Gouldin through an e-mail.

Baseball landed in Egypt as long ago as 1889, when the country became a signature stop of A.J. Spalding’s Goodwill World Tour.

The game never really developed in Egypt.

The project took off in the Fall of 2017 with the Because Baseball Youth League in Cairo. In the inaugural six-week season the league involved 120 boys and girls in the age bracket 8-12. The young players and their families were introduced to the game of baseball.

“There are few things more gratifying than watching these Egyptian boys and girls, even their parents and coaches, play baseball with such palpable joy,” added Kemp Gouldin  “The smiles on their faces are infectious.”

In the Spring of 2018 Because Baseball implemented an Exchange Programme, that took Egyptian baseball coach Waleed Abo-Elnour to the USA to work with a varsity baseball team. The coach will share his experience with over 1,500 students at his school in Egypt, incorporating baseball into the PE curriculum.

Because Baseball is nominated in the category Regional-Peace-Through Sport Initiative of the Year. The project is slated to begin its Fall 2018 season at the end of the month.

Because Baseball OFFICIAL WEBSITE

“My congratulations go to Because Baseball and to Mr Gouldin for his effort” commented WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari “This nomination is yet another demonstration of the power of our sport and its global relevance and appeal for social developments.”

Created in 2008, the annual Peace and Sport Awards reward international or regional organizations and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to peace, dialogue and social change in the world through sport.

Because Baseball Egypt

“The smiles on their faces are infectious”

This year the ceremony of Peace and Sport Awards will be held in the island of Rhodes, Greece, Thursday 18 October, as part of Peace and Sport Regional Forum.

The LIST OF NOMINEES to Peace and Sports Awards.