Three Sports, Two Peoples, One Healthy Life

Three Sports, Two Peoples, One Healthy Life (State Department)

On July 22-23, under the program 3 Sports, 2 Peoples, 1 Healthy Life, a group of about 35 cyclists, comprising officials of the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia, the Embassy of the United Kingdom, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, several sports institutions, and representatives of different civil society organizations, participated in a 60-mile bicycle ride between La Cumbre, on the road that connects La Paz and the Yungas region, and the town of Yanacachi, with the objective of promoting a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.

Along the way, the cyclists and other U.S. Embassy staff stopped in the communities of Pongo and Chaco, where they played soccer with local teams. Another soccer game was played in Yanacachi. In all three locations, the U.S. Embassy donated books and sports equipment for the communities and their schools. Also, awards were given to the winners of children's drawing contests on the theme: "Healthy Living through Sports and Education." Additionally, the Embassy of Ecuador in Bolivia confirmed it would also donate children's books to the three rural communities.

In the three towns, Tahuichi Soccer Academy instructors conducted soccer clinics for children and youths. Approximately 400 children and youths benefited from these soccer clinics, which are widely renowned in the country.

The third sport in the program will be volleyball. For this sport, U.S. expert coaches are scheduled to arrive in Bolivia to share their expertise with Bolivian counterparts. All these initiatives are based on the belief that promoting sports is a good idea to prevent youths from adopting negative lifestyles while opening avenues to healthy lifestyles, which include physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.