International basketball tournament kicks off at Lackland

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • Air Force News Agency
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  A crowd of more than 100 people witnessed the opening ceremony of the 2008 International Military Sports Council Basketball Tournament April 14 at the Lackland Air Force Base parade grounds.

The tournament features teams from the United States, Greece, Italy, South Korea, Canada, Latvia and Lithuania with the championship game scheduled for April 21. 

The International Military Sports Council, or CISM, is made up of 131 different member nations that compete in 25 different sports. The council is the largest authority for military sports in the world.

"I'm very happy and honored to be here in Texas," said Italian Brig. Gen. Gianni Gola, the CISM president. "It is vital that we hold tournaments like this. We send a strong message to the whole world that military sport can promote peace."

For Senior Airman Jammar Major, a C-130 Hercules crew chief from Hurlburt Field, Fla., it is his first taste of international basketball.

"This is an exciting opportunity to be able to represent my country and play basketball," he said.

Airman Major said he has been practicing with the American team for about a month and the biggest challenge has been to mesh together.

"Everybody does things differently, but when it comes down to it we have good chemistry." he said. "I don't worry about the other teams. I just worry about what my team can do. If we play well, I think we have a good chance of winning the tournament." 

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