Coaches and managers from the Lebanese Basketball Federation visited the Kroc Institute in December to learn about peacebuilding. Their goal: reverse a disturbing trend of religiously based violence at Lebanese basketball games, where security personnel can outnumber spectators and where fans shout each other down with verses from the Bible and Qur’an.

Basketball is the national sport of Lebanon. It offers a window into the ethno-religious strife that plagues the entire Middle East, and provides an opportunity for teaching conflict resolution skills, said Rashied Omar, coordinator of the Kroc Institute’s Program in Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding.

“Basketball may offer a game plan for peace,” he said.

The Lebanese visitors were in Indiana as part of the Unity Through Sports (USPORT) program. Their three-week visit was coordinated by Purdue University’s Indiana Center for Cultural Exchange in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University. The U.S. State Department sponsored the visit.

The coaches and managers represented the variety of religions in Lebanon: Shiite Muslim, Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Sunni Muslim, Maronite Christian, and Greek Orthodox. They were joined on the trip by Loubna Ghanem (Druze), project director from the Center for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, and sports trainer David Deryeghyayan (Armenian Christian).

Their visit began with a coaching clinic at Indiana University. At Purdue University, they learned practical activities to build leadership qualities in their players.

Their tour ended at Notre Dame, where the Kroc Institute and the Center for Ethical Education and Democracy presented a two-day workshop. It included presentations on creating a team atmosphere that counters violent influences; and ways of fostering religious tolerance in youths. In the longest session, Nicole LaVoie of the Center for Ethical Education and Democracy explained ways that coaches can teach responsibility, respect, discipline, love for the game and good choice-making among players.

Upon their return to Lebanon, the visitors planned 10 workshops to share what they learned with other coaches.

“They truly believe that their teams can become cells, or seeds, for a better society,” said Don Mitchell of the Indiana Center for Cultural Exchange. He said it is likely the program in sports diplomacy will spread to other Middle Eastern countries, and be expanded to include soccer and women’s volleyball.

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Home > Publications > Peace Colloquy > Issue 7, Spring 2005