US Embassy Conducts Soccer World Cup Event at a Local Sports Bar

US and UK ambassadors exchange mascots before the game

On June 12, the US Embassy Minsk co-hosted with the British Embassy in Belarus a viewing of the 2010 Soccer World Cup match between England and the United States, which was held as part of the World Cup 2010 tournament in South Africa. Representatives from both diplomatic missions, including Ambassador Rosemary Thomas and Charge d’Affaires Michael Scanlan, rooted for their respective teams at one of the local sports bars.  The intense and captivating match ended in a draw, the result that both sides admitted to as “very diplomatic.”

The event helped Post to sustain and establish greater ties with the Belarusian sports community. Many embassy contacts, which included, among others, Embassy’s long-time sports contacts, former and current Belarusian soccer players, sports journalists, and commentators, watched the event together with embassy representatives. Considering popularity of soccer in Belarus, as well as the fact that the Belarusian team did not pass the qualifying round of the tournament, the Embassy event attracted the attention of the local print, online and broadcast media. Both ambassadors gave interviews to the media and gave each other symbolic presents in memory of the event.