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Skating star Kwan gets new diplomacy job
2006-11-09
Hoping to boost America's image abroad, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appointed U.S. figure skating star Michelle Kwan on Thursday as a public diplomacy envoy for the Bush administration. Once an aspiring skater herself, Rice said Kwan showed humility and grace under pressure during her athletic career and was the perfect choice as a goodwill ambassador. "It is a time of great consequence in the world and I know you are going to play an important and valuable role for our nation," said Rice, with Kwan, 26, at her side. As the top U.S. diplomat, Rice has a bag full of diplomatic challenges -- from the growing violence in Iraq to North Korea and Iran's nuclear programs. The State Department hopes using sports and other public figures as envoys will stem a tide of suspicion over U.S. foreign policy goals, particularly after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Kwan's main job will be to meet young people worldwide to tell them more about America and foster an understanding of "our democratic principles," said Rice. Speaking to reporters afterward, the five-time World figure skating champion said her first trip would be to Asia, likely starting in Beijing. "I am not here to talk about my political views," Kwan said, when asked whether she would promote the Bush administration's democracy agenda, which has been met with hostility in many Arab nations, in particular. The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Kwan is now studying at the University of Denver, Rice's alma mater. She withdrew from Olympic competition earlier this year because of an injury. Kwan met Rice during a White House luncheon this year with China's president and offered to help in any way she could to promote the imagine of the United States image abroad.
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