Pau Gasol in Israel. 'With sport everyone speaks the same language'
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
Peres hosts LA Lakers co-captain Pau Gasol
Gasol's first visit to Israel focuses on basketball workshop for Jewish and Arab children to promote peace and coexistence.
President Shimon Peres hosted
the co-captain of the Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, at the President's Residence on Sunday, along with a delegation of young Jewish and Arab basketball players.
Pau Gasol is on his first visit to Israel and the focus of his visit is a basketball workshop for Jewish and Arab children to promote peace and coexistence.
Peres and Gasol. Positive impact on youth (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)
Peres welcomed Gasol to Israel and said, "You are a role model to Israeli children – your work inspires hope. Sport is the key to coexistence and peace. I want to express my personal thanks."
Gasol presents Peres with Spanish national team basketball jersey (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)
Gasol thanked the president and said that he had come to Israel to meet the people of Israel and is pleased to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the youth.
He added, "Sport is the best way to progress peace and it doesn't matter which religion you are, with sport everyone speaks the same language."
At the end of the meeting Gasol presented Peres with a Spanish national team basketball jersey and offered his congratulations to Maccabi Tel Aviv for their Euroleague victory.
