Harvard, Stanford basketball teams to play in Shanghai
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Representatives from Stanford and Harvard universities join Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott (second from right) as he announces the matchup for the 2016 Pac-12 China Game on Nov 13 at a press conference in Shanghai. From left: Xue Yanqing, deputy secretary-general of the Federation of University Sports of China; Rob Urstein, managing director of the Global Innovation Program at Stanford's Business School; Zhang Dazhong, Alibaba Sports Group CEO; Larry Scott and Yi Wang, Harvard executive director for university programs. Provided to China Daily |
Harvard University will play Stanford University in Shanghai next November when the Pac-12 Conference kicks off its second annual China game.
The game will be played on Nov 12 and televised live in the US (Nov 11). Specific venue and broadcast information will be announced later.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd will sponsor the game. In May, Alibaba and the Pac-12 Conference signed a two-year partnership to host a regular season men's basketball game in China. In addition to the on-court support, Alibaba will also feature the game live on its mobile and digital platforms in China.
The Harvard-Stanford game was announced on Nov 13, and the next day in Shanghai the Pac-12 Conference held its first regular-season college basketball matchup in China when the University of Washington defeated the University of Texas 77-71.
In announcing the Harvard-Stanford game, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said, "This is a great opportunity for these students to participate in true cultural exchange through college sports. Their experiences both on and off the court will not only be valuable to their future success, but also help foster goodwill and mutual understanding between our two countries."
Johnny Dawkins, Stanford's director of men's basketball, was a member of the coaching staff for the US men's national basketball team in when it won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"This event will provide a rewarding cultural experience for our student-athletes, allowing our program to explore the city and play on a global stage against an exceptional school in Harvard," Dawkins said.
The lead-up to next year's game is set to coincide with Alibaba's Singles Day, which is held on Nov 11 and is the world's largest online shopping spree in the world.
jackfreifelder@chinadailyusa.com
