BRONX, NY, August 6 -Thirty-five Tibetans and supporters of “Team Tibet” brought their message about Tibet, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the 14 Tibetan hunger strikers in Delhi to the New York Yankee baseball game on August 4, 2007. Young and old individuals from the Tibetan Community of New York-New Jersey, Students for a Free Tibet, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress- New York-New Jersey, International Tibet Independence Movement, International Campaign for Tibet, and U.S. Tibet Committee participated.
The “Team” sat in the Left Field Bleachers right behind Monument Park. It was 95 degrees with no wind and a blazing hot sun.
Like the baseball games in the other North American cities, during the course of the game, the “Team” held up the banners: “Yankee Fans Stand with Team Tibet,” and “Beijing 2008 Olympics: Whose Side Are You On?” Members of “Team Tibet” also wore bright gold “Team Tibet” t-shirts with the number “08” appearing on their backs.
In the very first inning of the game, two Tibetans and a leader of ITIM were remarking how auspicious it was that they were going to be at the game when “A-Rod” could hit his dramatic and record setting 500th home run, AND then he hit it! A-Rod is the youngest baseball player in history to reach this accomplishment.
As a result of waving Tibet and U.S.A. flags and banners, and wearing such colorful t-shirts, members of “Team Tibet” ended up being broadcast on the Jumbo Tron screen 3 times during “God Bless America,” “Take Me Out to The Ball Game,” and on a random live feed from a roaming camera person.
The “Team” received a wildly successful reception from curious fans in the stadium and on the streets when they distributed literature.
For images of this event, visit www.rangzen.org in the next few days.
