Embassy photo by Attila Németh

(BUCHAREST, Romania, March 24, 2008) – The Harlem Globetrotters concluded their 24-game tour of seven Eastern European countries with four consecutive sold-out shows in Romania, continuing a trend of capacity crowds and record international turnstile counts over the past month.  In addition to Romania, the tour included stops in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

“The Globetrotters’ international appeal continues to grow year after year,” said Globetrotter executive vice president Jeff Munn, who directs the team’s international growth and development. “In addition to the success in our live events, future plans include international growth through television, the Internet, licensing and grass roots efforts.”

A media frenzy followed the team throughout the tour, including extensive coverage by CNN International.  During their stop in Hungary, Public Affairs Officer Michael Hurley of the U.S. Embassy in Budapest presented the team with the Ambassador’s Award for Sports Diplomacy in front of an audience of 9,000 adoring fans at Papp László Sportaréna, the largest sports arena in Budapest. 

The Ambassador’s Award was created by Ambassador April H. Foley in 2007.  It is designed to honor those individuals and groups whose outstanding work in the fields of culture and sports advance the Embassy’s goals of mutual understanding and the deepening of friendship between the United States and Hungary.

The Globetrotters will play over 150 games internationally this year, covering nearly 35 different countries.  Future tours will include the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Brazil, Macedonia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and Central America.

Celebrating their 82nd consecutive year of touring the world, the Harlem Globetrotters have played in 118 countries on six continents, entertaining over 125 million fans and crossing barriers between cultures, societies and people from all walks of life.  The organization is one of only six teams to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.   Click here to purchase tickets for the 2008 “Magic As Ever” World Tour.  For information about group or scout tickets, contact the Globetrotters at 800-641-HOOP.