Washington Wizards Stop in Chengdu during 30th Anniversary Tour to China

September  12 -- From September 5-15, 2009, current and former members of the National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Washington Wizards visited China to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China and to commemorate the anniversary of their first historic visit to China in 1979 at the invitation of Deng Xiaoping.  Supported by the U.S. Department of State and hosted by the Sichuan People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the delegation made a special stop in Chengdu from September 11-13.

While in Chengdu, the Wizards delegation visited Dujiangyan, an area hit heavily by the May 2008 earthquake, and conducted a basketball clinic at Dujiangyan’s newly constructed You-Ai Primary School, reaching out to students of the school as well as children from surrounding communities.  The delegation also played a practice match with students at the University of Electronic Science and Technology; made a call on Deputy Governor of Sichuan Province Chen Wenhua, and attended a welcome banquet hosted by U.S. Consul General David E. Brown.

Shortly after the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China in 1979, the team (then known as the Washington Bullets) became the first NBA team ever to visit China. The anniversary delegation was made up of fifteen members, including Hall of Fame center Wes Unseld, a star of the 1979 team and an original member of the first delegation to visit China; Wes Unseld, Jr., who is an assistant coach for the team; current Wizard guard Randy Foye; and former Bullet center Gheorghe Muresan —   who at 7-foot-7 is the tallest man to ever play in the NBA.   The delegation’s 30th anniversary tour also included visits to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

More Information About the Wizards

The Wizards Blog about their experiences in China

Official Website of the Wizards

Photos - Wizards’ Visit to You’Ai Primary School in Dujiangyan – QQ Blog