Former NBA player George Muresan will train Armenian and Turkish teens during a sports exchange program on August 19-29 in Turkey.

The International Sports Programming Initiative is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Sports United project and organized by the nonprofit World Learning organization.

“This program highlights how sports can bring us together to enjoy a common passion and make our differences insignificant in comparison.  We hope that the understanding and mutual respect shared by these young athletes will serve Turkey and Armenia well as neighbors and foster a brighter future for both countries,” said Charge d’Affaires Bruce Donahue of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

The program kicks off with a one-week sports camp in Oren, Turkey, where the students and their coaches will learn about youth leadership and inter-cultural communications while participating in sports activities. The second week takes the participants to Izmir to play exhibition games and attend the first day of the FIBA World Basketball Championship.

In January 2011, the same Turkish and Armenian program participants will travel to the U.S. to train and play basketball alongside American counterparts.