USA Basketball cancels its trip to Senegal due to Ebola fears
USA Basketball has decided to cancel its scheduled trip to Senegal layer this month before the FIBA World Cup due to concerns about the massive outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said that USAB was left with no alternative after the recent declaration of a “public health emergency of international concern” in the region by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The senior men’s national team, led by Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, was scheduled to make its first visit to Africa later this month for an all-day procession of clinics, tours, and receptions in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
“I speak for all at USA Basketball when I say we’re extremely disappointed we will not be able to visit Senegal,” Colangelo said. “Our entire traveling party was very much looking forward to the experience.”
“Although the CDC does not yet suspect any Ebola cases in Senegal, the country’s position as a neighboring country to Guinea and Dakar’s role as a gateway to West Africa heightened our concern,” Colangelo said.
“We remain committed to fostering basketball worldwide and in Africa and Senegal in particular and we are committed to look at further opportunities in the future to work with and support the Senegalese national team.”
Read more about the story at The Week.
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