'Giant' NBA star joins voluntary activities in Vietnam

National Basketball Association (NBA) star Kelly Olynyk will join voluntary activities in Ho Chi Minh City this week to support the clean-up work at a social center for the disabled people and run a national basketball training camp in the city.

The 23-year young star, who is playing for Boston Celtics of the U.S.’s professional league, is on the Vietnam trip thanks to the sponsorship of the milk trademark Dutch Lady and YAN Group, the owner of a TV entertainment channel in Vietnam.

Olynyk had an exchange with members of the social center for the disabled people, DRD, and helped them tidy up the center on Thursday.

The 2.13m tall player sent a message to encourage the center members that, “You just keep on working and you will get success in life.”

Like many people in the world, a big player like him must work hard on the training ground to gain success, he said frankly.

“That’s the similarity between you and me,” he added.

Asked about his wishes, he said he wishes for peace for all people.

“Living in peace, we are all becoming one,” he said.

From June 13 to 15, Olynyk will take part in a youth basketball development program at the Ton Duc Thang Sports Hall located at 19 Nguyen Huu Tho Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7.

He will help run the national basketball training camp there with the participation of around 1,000 local teens aged from 10 to 14.

After training them, he will select ten boys and four girls for an overseas training trip. The venue will be announced later.

The U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Rena Bitter, attended the talk at DRD on Thursday, while the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam David B. Shear will make a special appearance on June 15.