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Harlem Globetrotters Flying Through China

Wednesday, 6th July 2011 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

Hammer Harrison, Scooter Christensen and Bull Bullard (L to R, with this website's shy editor in the mix)
Hammer Harrison, Scooter Christensen and Bull Bullard (L to R, with this website's shy editor in the mix)
Tonight is the first night of a 15-day, 10-city China tour for the Harlem Globetrotters, who have entertained around the world for more than 80 years. Their one-of-a-kind combination of slapstick comedy, basketball skills, tricks and showmanship is where sports meets family-friendly vaudeville show. The Globetrotters were one of the acts brought in to fete Deng Xiaoping on his 1979 visit to the United States.

A few of the Globetrotters stopped in Beijing earlier in the week. Scooter Christensen, Hammer Harrison and Bull Bullard entertained a small audience of local American families before heading off to their fist stop, Liaoyuan. The company is increasing its China efforts, hoping that demand for family-oriented live shows will grow in the coming years. They have opened a small office in Beijing, and retained SEA Sports & Entertainment Asia for help with event execution and marketing. They plan to return in December, probably visiting some bigger markets on that tour. Their work-in-progress Chinese website is here.

This time around they will be stopping in these cities:

July 6: Liaoyuan
July 7: Liaoyuan
July 10: Dezhou
July 13: Pingguo
July 15: Luohe
July 16: Nanyang
July 17: Xuchang
July 19: Nanning
July 20: Nanning
July 21: Chongqing (TBD)

Tags: basketball, Harlem Globetrotters