A “first” for the Israel Tennis & Education Centers… the ITEC Coexistence Team at a professional ATP tournament! Our team of six Arab and Jewish youth, their two coaches and an ITEC alumn, Ehud Kish, played an exhibition during the prestigious Citi Open, the same court on which ITEC alum Amos Mansdorf won in 1993. It was a crowning achievement for the team and our organization to have this exposure at a major tennis tournament. Playing for Peace… Beyond Tennis is the message they promoted on and off the court.
The visit was the first stop in a jam-packed schedule of appearances not only in Washington DC but two other key markets in the Northeast. From here the team travels to New York and Philadelphia for exhibitions with donors, meetings with the Israeli Consul General and visits to historical sites in both cities. Their visit concludes with a very special event hosted by the Legacy Youth Tennis and Education in Philadelphia as part of the ITEC’s “Children to Children Tennis Diplomacy Exchange” Program.
Several photos from the team’s appearance at the Citi Open are included as well as a live interview on WUSA, the local CBS television affiliate. Due to weather delays, the exhibition at the Citi Open took place at midnight instead of 7 pm. Based on the team’s enthusiasm, it did not take away from the enormity of their appearance at this event… the first ever for the ITEC! Undoubtedly their appearance at the Citi Open will create memories that will last a lifetime!
Please take a moment to click on the video link and don’t forget to share this wonderful story with your family and friends. Also, encourage them to follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on the developing story as we make our way to New York and Philadelphia this week. It’s all part of an unforgettable adventure for our ITEC Coexistence team.
