Kobe Bryant for Global Ambassador

Asia Society Southern California

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Founded in Los Angeles in 1985, Asia Society Southern California is an independently funded regional Center that creates its own programs and activities. Home to the largest Asia population in the United States, Los Angeles is a vibrant microcosm of Asia and American relations. Click HERE for more info on Asia Society

IN 2006, KOBE BRYANT changed the number on his jersey from “8” to “24.” In addition to the past reasons that Kobe has attributed to the change, it could signified that he will work 24 hours a day (7 days a week, as he shared in a CCTV interview) on the second part of his career, as a new beginning of the next stage of his exciting role as a “Cultural Ambassador” between China and the United States. Since “8” is generally assumed as a sign of good luck – “24” could be another indicator of his future success and good luck (threefold - noting that "24" consists of three "8s") - in the NBA (additional championship rings), the United States (via his involvement in community affairs through his continued participation in the below-listed "After-School All-Stars" organization) and in China (as a philantropist to tap into the Chinese government's growing interest in promoting charity via his involvement to raise monies with the below-listed renown Soong Ching Ling Foundation) that strengthens the relationships between the United States and China.

Listen to an extended CCTV interview with Kobe Bryant by clicking HERE.
At the third APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) SME Summit and Alibaba.com-Taobao "Net Products" Trade Fair, Kobe will be talking to Jack Ma about the requirements of success on September 11th at 11:30 A.M.)
Click HERE for more information

ACKNOWLEDGING KOBE BRYANT'S SUCCESS in the NBA and the United States – his commitment to creating good and understanding between the United States and China progressed to another stage through his newly-created Kobe Bryant China Fund's collaboration with China's Soong Ching Ling Foundation (SCLF) that was made confirmed at the “Official Signing” at Asia Society Southern California’s 2009 Gala Dinner Fund-Raising Dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel with the attendance of President of Staples Center Timothy Leiweke, Minister Liu Peng of China’s General Administration of Sports and President of the Beijing Olympic Committee and Mr. Huang Yuejin – the Vice-President / Party Secretary of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation. At the Asia Society Gala Dinner, Kobe Bryant was presented by Asia Society Southern California Chairman Donald Tang with the award of being the organization’s "Global Ambassador" because of his deep commitment of creating good will and understanding between the U.S. and China. Timothy J. Leiweke (President and CEO of AEG, the Los Angeles-based company that owns Staples Center) received Asia Society’s “Global Corporate Leadership Award.” Kobe Bryant stated that night "This honor is huge and special because it's global . . It's about bringing basketball and having a connection outside the U.S. and doing it all in a positive way." This well-executed Scott Mauer-produced and directed event was emceed by TV’s renown television sports announcer Jim Hill and coordinated by Deb Jordan. Within the short 3 weeks of preparation for the event - Scott Mauer successfully addressed the massive onslaught of the Chinese media (given the immense interest and popularity of Kobe Bryant in China), the logistics of the arrival of prominent Chinese officials from China, directing a program involving people from various languages (English and Mandarin), coordinating the various performing acts, the various entertainment/sports celebrities, working with AEG management and professionally addressing all of Kobe Bryant's needs. The night was sponsored by AEG and others companies that included known auctioneer Tere Morris making successful the event's "Silent Auction" via the top two items - watch and jewelery donated by Nubeo - bringing in $100,000, along with the monies from all the other items.

Kobe Bryant's Reality Show

IN THE NBA, Kobe Bryant has reached the heights through winning the NBA’s MVP, the Finals’ MVP and four NBA rings – with hopefully a few more, considering that the Lakers (as of the time of this writing) includes Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, Ron Artest, Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell, Shannon Brown, DJ Mbenga, Adam Morrison, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton, Sun Yue and Lamar Odom (hopefully). Kobe has extended his success to China, with the help of Nike, through various campaigns. These efforts have included Kobe Mentu (Chinese for disciple) - his Wieden and Kennedy/Shanghai-designed basketball reality show on CCTV 5 with the purpose of connecting him (along with Nike) with Chinese basketball players because of Kobe’s expertise in basketball training and being the hardest working basketball player. The concept is as follows: 24 basketball players were selected from all over China under one roof for 2 weeks of intensive training camp with Kobe in LA. The 12 best of the best were selected as Kobe’s disciple and put into two teams for a final game in Beijing. The whole documentary is produced as a 6-part TV series. The results, in conjunction with Mindshare handling media, consisted of 37 million TVC and TV show impressions, 31.8 million OOH impressions, 95.7 million Print impressions, 16.3 million training videos viewed online, 3.4 million visits to the website and 300,000 actual episodes viewed online within first 5 days. His personal rewards can be reflected in his words that state Mr. Bryant has stated “It has been a privilege to work with so many young Chinese athletes, and young people around the globe. Sports truly is a universal language, and bringing together the youth of China and the United States through basketball is extremely rewarding.” 'For additional information on the "Kobe Mentu" show, please visit their website at http://www.nikebasketball.com.cn/kobe_mentu

Tim Leiweke became the youngest general manager in pro sports at age 24 with the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Baltimore Blast.

IN THE U.S., AS THE NATIONAL AMBASSADOR for After-School All-Stars (ASAS) since 2007 – the charity that was founded by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1992, Mr. Bryant is involved with finding ways to help American youths better understand the importance of the U.S. - China relationship, and to benefit from the opportunities that relationship can bring. He was inspired by the programs’ ability to keep kids safe during the critical after-school hours when they are most likely to join gangs, smoke cigarettes, or experiment with drugs, alcohol or sex – as observed in the recent 21st Global Youth Service Day. He has previously met thousands of kids participating in the organization’s comprehensive after-school programs that include academics support, personal enrichment opportunities, and athletic programs to address the 15 million kids that leave school with nowhere to go that unfortunately results in criminal or drug-related activities. He has spoken to students about the importance of education and held a basketball clinic in Miami. He emphasized this through his words “Education is key . . . As a kid it never sinks in until you are put in an environment where it all comes to fruition. So it has to be lived, not only said, but it has to be lived. Through this program, in this environment, the importance of education is lived on a daily basis. That is what makes this program so special.” In recognition that learning a culture’s language(s) is the quickest and most efficient way of promoting understanding, the Kobe Bryant Family Foundation’s latest venture in 2009 is to launch a Mandarin language program in conjunction with the After-School All-Stars, which will pay the salaries of four teachers to teach Chinese language skills and culture to American youth in the “After-School All-Star” fashion of making it fun for the kids. "I want to help these kids see the possibilities of China and just understand that the world is much, much bigger than what they see around them," Mr. Bryant says. "It helps show them that anything is possible and they should not be afraid to dream big. You're not just locked in to one city."

"I have a curiosity about other cultures and an openness to them, as a result of growing up overseas" (Kobe Bryant)

IN CHINA, while building on his NBA achievements and success in the above-listed inroads into the marketplace in China (where some have commented that Bryant is so popular in a marketplace of four billion people in Asia and 1.3 billion in China where the potential fan base and endorsement gold mine so great, it makes the U.S. markets - along with the media and the general public's perception in the United States almost secondary in priority), Kobe Bryant will be assisting the efforts of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation's (SCLF) efforts to bring educational, sports and health programs to children across America. This is significant because SCLF is a prominent non-governmental institution bearing the name of the late Honorary President of the People's Republic of China - Soong Ching Ling (Madame Sun Yat-sen, 1893-1981, late Honorary President of the People's Republic of China, world famous patriot and distinguished international statewoman) and established on May 29, 1982. Kobe’s affiliation with the (Henan) Soong Ching Ling Foundation provides tangible evidence of his efforts of carrying forward Soong Ching Ling's unfinished work in strengthening international friendship, promoting people-to-people exchanges and improving children's welfare by giving prominence to poverty alleviation through education aid while safeguarding world peace and friendship among nations that has produced great results in and outside of China.

KOBE'S EFFORTS TO CONTINUE SCLF'S TRADITION that – in the past – resulted in the construction of schools in poor villages, receiving needed items (i.e. chairs, desks, computers, hearing aids, books, sports facilities, clothing, health care products), improving school conditions/educational environment and social influence that led to receiving the honor of "National Model Nongovernmental Organization" by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China.
(Editor's Note: Soong Ching Ling's tradition started with her father, Charlie Soong, who was Duke University's 1st international student while extended to her famous sisters that include Madame Chiang Ka-shek/Soong Mayling) and Soong Ai-ling who was married to influential banker Kong Hsiang-hsi)

CONSIDERING THAT SCLF is a relatively new institution with limited funds with a policy of progressive advance doing what its capacity allows, it has embarked on number of undertakings during the past seven years, with help from enthusiastic supporters at home and abroad. With Kobe Bryant as one of its latest supporters to help SCLF (Soong Ling Ching Foundation) raise monies, their partnership might provide exciting opportunities to work on SCLF's past projects and/or similar projects in the near future such as the following:

Soong Ching Ling Children's Science and Technology Pavilion - venue opened on 1986's International Children's Day in the Soong Ching Ling Children's Science Park to be a learning center for children in the areas of science and technology
Soong Ching Ling Tianjin Bohai Children's World - venue is a 57,000 square meter centre of education and recreation, jointly launched by the SCLF and the Tianjin Women's Federation that was completed and opened on June 1, 1988.
Soong Ching Ling Children's Literature Prize -with the Ministry of Broadcast, Film and Television, Ministry of Culture and the State Education Commission, this award commends writers who have made contribution to children's literature
National Children's Electronic Organ Exhibition Competition (Beijing) - Competition with about 200 young contestants from 29 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. With the help of Yamaha, set up four electonic organ training centers in China.
Soong Ching Ling Children's Invention Prize - in October 1986, the Prize was sponsored by State Science and Technology Commission with the hope it will arouse the children's consciousness of doing solid work by daring to practice and create.
Soong Ching Ling Foundation Scholarship - the Scholarship was instituted to encourage the girls from minority nationalities to win honors in both study and behavior, to readily accept work in their home areas after graduation from their colleges
International Children's' Film Shows - arranged 8 films adapted from world children's classics and children's television dramas to be seen on CCTV. Produced and telecast films with CCTV, Chin Television Drama Production Centre, China Children's Film Studio and China Children's Art Theater. SCLF/UNICEF-produced "The Children of Soong Ching Ling" was nominated for an Oscar Award as the best children's film. Organized an international animation film show on TV and International Children's TV Program Show.
Training Course for Teachers - teaching program for kindergarten teaches to raise the vocational level of kindergarten teachers.
Cooperation Projects between SCLF and UNICEF - built up two maternity centers (Beijing & Gansu), children's library in Guizhou, five mobile children's libraries in mountain villages. With Foster Parents Plan International, built facilities for villages in Tongxin county.,
Promote Children's Sport Activities - sponsored with the Chinese Football Association the "Baby Cup" (children's football matches), International Invitation Tournament of Football Match (China, United States, Japan and Germany), National Children's Palace Three Chess Tournament (Chinese Chess - Go), International Optimist-Dinghy Association World Sailing Championship, established the "Golden Key" Children's Yachting training base in Qingdao, established the children's Sports Promotion Society.
International Exchange - organized U.S. tour with four child painters that included attending the Striking Peace Bell Ceremony on the International Day of Peace at the Headquarters of U.N. in New York presided by the UN Secretary General Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar.
Promote Peace - organized the International Knowledge Competition with peace as theme that had one hundred thousand people participating while being shown on CCTV. Soong Ching Ling Foundation was conferred the Title of "Peace Messenger" by UN's Secretary-General Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar. Worked with the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, China Association for Science and Technology to launch "Science and Peace Week" to usescience and technology in a peaceful environment.
Exhibits for Children - held an exhibition entitled "Future Pillars of the States" with Hong Kong Council of Early Childhood Education and Services, organized with the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources the "Love China" study movement, sponsored with the Chinese Musicians Association's nationwide contest of finding the best songs for children and exhibit of children's painting
Cancer Treatment - working with the International Consortium for the CURE of Childhood Cancer in China (CURE) on a project to develop in China a national health care program for diagnosis, research, and treatment of serious childhood diseases, especially cancer - the disease that causes more deaths of Chinese children than any other illness.
"All for Children"-- Love-Care Charity - this long-standing annual event of inviting children to Soong Ling Ching's residence to celebrate the children's holday had a special meaning in 2008 because of the recent deadly May 12th earthquake in Wenchuan to share the need to learn to be staunch, to cherish life and to be ready to offer assistance for the rebuilding of homes.

KOBE BRYANT, ALONG WITH NIKE/NIKE ASIA, are business visionaries who made a deliberate campaign of identifying the importance of capturing invaluable market share of a fast-growing consumers in China (the world’s most-populous country with four billion on the continent and 1.3 billion in China) during this difficult economic period via innovative and strategic partnerships to create or improve brand identity to achieve long term success in the Chinese market. Kobe’s success is continuing Nike/Nike Asia’s reputation of being the icon for the new China – especially since Nike has a widely recognized reputation among many Chinese consumers that consider Nike the Middle Kingdom's "coolest brand." Nike’s merchandise has become items that China’s new middle class, which is hungry for Western gear and individualism, hungers for because they represent symbols of success.

WORKING WITH KOBE MEETS NIKE'S FORMAT to cracking the "Chinese Code" – promote the right sports (basketball) and launched a series of inspired ad campaigns with the right athletes (Kobe Bryant and the Kobe Mentu reality show). Their goal is to start from China's richer east-coast towns and proceed inland. Noting the NBA’s partnership with AEG (along with the Chinese government) to build twelve NBA-styled basketball venues throughout China – the environment to continue the consumer within China looks very promising for the future – especially with current sales exceeding $1 billion in their second-largest market outside of the United States. Kobe Bryant and Nike/Nike Asia understand that to continue their success from the great adoration of Kobe from the 350 million Chinese fans that already exists (with an estimated 12% of the urban Chinese population now playing basketball, along with 83% of 15- to 24-year-old Chinese youths are NBA fans and with more than 450 million tv viewers in China), displaying an affection for Chinese culture and people would be invaluable for long-term success – along with traveling to China and being with his many passionate fans in China. "Kobe has a genuine interest in China and has traveled extensively throughout the country," said Heidi Ueberroth, the NBA's president for global marketing partnerships and international business operations. "He spends time visiting as many places as he can and interacting with fans everywhere he goes." His visit to China in July 2009, on behalf of Nike, is a very good start in this direction. Could Kobe be involved in a Chinese version of his good friend’s (Tiger Woods) annual event entitled “Tiger Jam” that features artists from China and the United States raising funds for SCLF?

KOBE BRYANT'S ABOVE LISTED SUCCESS, done in partnership with Nike/Nike Asia, in China also parallels the NBA/NBA China’s push in the same markets that has resulted in 30% to 40% revenue growth to compensate the flat growth in the United States. This growth has compensated the NBA’s recent economic times that has manifested itself with a 9% cut in league jobs and the "Salary Cap" (a direct barometer of the NBA's revenues since it is generally tided to leaguewide revenues) will decrease 1.6% in the 2009-2010 season and expected to decrease as much as 5% in the 2010-11 season. Along with his partnership with Nike/Nike Asia, Kobe is capitalizing on the NBA’s efforts for the last two decades of spending monies of building courts, holding skills clinics and mounting promotions that resulted in more than 300 million people in China that play the game, with 89% of those aged 15 to 54 now aware of the NBA brand (through 2 million unique uses to live games, 1.6 billion viewers, etc.) that is developing an even larger untapped markets for Kobe’s various merchandise – especially noteworthy since China is now the NBA's biggest foreign market for its branded merchandise. With NBA/NBA China’s Tim Chen and Heidi Ueberroth partnering with AEG on designing, marketing, programming and operating (via AEG-Ogden) twelve multi-purpose NBA-style sports and entertainment arenas with seating capacity of 17,000 with the funding from the Chinese government and Chinese banks (starting with the Beijing's Wukesong Indoor Stadium with a capacity of 18,700 with 2,500 club seats, 9,600 lower bowl seats and 48 private suites) - the environment for the NBA to be the major global sports player in China (through various additional programs such as NBA’s own reality show called “Mengniu NBA Basketball Disciple”), AEG to be a major force for events (i.e. basketball, other sporting events, concerts, cultural events and trade shows") and for Kobe Bryant to be a Global Athletic Icon” appears to be a great reality that can only become bigger.