As a distinguished guest, Abbot Shi Yongxin seeing American Football game at the Trojans' first-round play off game against Smiths Station (November 10, 2006)

Daphne, Alabama, USA -- In the days following his first experience with American football, Abbot Shi Yongxin, leader of the Shaolin Temple in China, is developing plans to start a football program at the Temple.

In an effort to promote cultural exchange, the Abbot's goal is to develop a series of football teams that would tour the United States and play exhibition games. The names of the teams would mirror current American football teams.

Daphne High School and Daphne Mayor Fred Small welcomed the Abbot, world-famous leader of  Shaolin Kung Fu, to view his first football game as a distinguished guest at the Trojans' first-round play off game against Smiths Station on 10 November.

The Abbot attended the Daphne game to gain an understanding of American sports culture. After seeing his first football game, the Abbot is convinced that football has the ability to promote culture.

Cultural exchange is a tradition of the Shaolin Temple that dates back 1500 years to its origins. The Shaolin Temple promotes the fact that culture has the power to create positive communication between nations, fostering harmony around the world.

As part of the plan, the Academy would provide football coaches and administrators to train athletes and build a program at the Shaolin Temple. For over 30 years, the Academy has delivered sports programs in more than 60 countries around the world.

The Abbot was visiting the Gulf Coast as a guest of the United States Sports Academy, which honored the Abbot with an honorary doctorate for leading a rebirth of the Shaolin culture and Shaolin Kung Fu.

A 10-part certification program to teach Kung Fu and other martial arts is also being developed as a joint effort between the Academy and the Abbot.

The United States Sports Academy is an independent, non-profit, accredited, special mission sports university created to serve the nation and the world with programs in instruction, research and service. The role of the Academy is to prepare men and women for careers in the profession of sports.

For more information about the United States Sports Academy, "America's Sports University," call 251-626-3303 or visit the Academy's website www.ussa.edu.