Ambassador Kicked in Dresden

Ambassador Philip Murphy and Consul General Katherine Brucker participate in scrimmage.

May 3, 2011. U.S. Ambassador Philip D. Murphy and Mrs. Tammy Murphy were in Dresden to attend several events during his “soccer road show,” in the run up to the upcoming FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup this summer. In the morning the Ambassador kicked off a soccer clinic at the 121. Middle School Dresden-Prohlis with former U.S. national players Briana Scurry and Amanda Cromwell who joined the Ambassador as Sports Envoys, sponsored by the State Department.  Ambassador Murphy went on to a discussion at the 9th Middle School where he talked about women in sports and the importance of the Title IX legislation (see separate article below), while Mrs. Murphy went to Dresden International School where she read from President Obama’s book for his daughters Of Thee I Sing.  The Ambassador next met with 120 students of the St. Benno Gymnasium for a Town Hall Meeting (see separate article below).  Later in the day, Ambassador Murphy returned to the soccer clinic to present certificates to the participating children and to join a VIP scrimmage with his wife Tammy, Consul General Katherine Brucker and other personalities from Saxony and Dresden.  Although both the Ambassador and his wife scored a goal, the VIP team lost 3:4 against a highly motivated team of high school students who had clearly learned from their clinic with Brianna Scurry and Amanda Cromwell.

Media Coverage:

• US-Botschafter auf Stippvisite in Sachsen
  Philip D. Murphy stellt sich Schülerfragen und wirbt vor WM für Frauenfußball
  Freie Presse, May 3, 2011
• 121. Mittelschule gewinnt 4:3 gegen die Mannschaft des US-Botschafters Philip Murphy
  DNN-online, May 3, 2011
• US-Botschafter Philip Murphy bei der Schultour – Freundschaftsspiel mit Prominenten
  Schultour „20Elf von seiner schönsten Seite“
  - Pressemitteilung -
  Dresden.de, May 2, 2011
• Schultour mit amerikanischer Unterstuetzung
  Dresden Fernsehen, May 3, 2011
• Schultour 20ELF
  Dresden Eins TV, May 3, 2011
• US-Botschafter Murphy legt sich mit sächsischen Mädels an
  Sächsische Zeitung online, May 4, 2011

Photo Gallery

Ambassador Discussed Women's Soccer

Ambassador Murphy at 9th Middle School Dresden

Ambassador Philip D. Murphy joined a discussion on women and soccer at the 9^th Middle School Dresden before an audience of 300 students. After showing a video trailer on Title IX and the University of Maryland women’s soccer team, the Ambassador and the school director Lothar Guettel discussed the role that sports, and especially soccer, plays for women. The discussion was moderated by Joern Verleger (City of Dresden). The ambassador talked about Title IX and how the role of women in sports has changed over the last decades. The discussion was followed by a lively Q/A session.

Students Learn About Sports and Heroes

Ambassador Murphy at St. Benno Gymnasium

Ambassador Philip D. Murphy visited St. Benno Gymnasium, a Dresden high school, to meet a group of 120 students and to talk about heroes in sports.  After delivering introductory opening remarks, Ambassador Murphy showed photos of heroes such as Jackie Robinson who made a difference in sports and for African Americans.  The Ambassador and the students discussed the role that sports plays, especially for minorities, before the discussion shifted to heroes in general such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, or President Obama.