Fleet Week Port Everglades Sailors Compete in Basketball Tournament

From Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (NNS) -- Sailors from four forward-deployed U.S. Navy ships in Port Everglades, Fla., participated in a friendly inter-ship basketball tournament at Ft. Lauderdale's Holiday Park, for the largest U.S. Navy community outreach in South Florida, April 27.

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sponsored tournament created an opportunity for Sailors to socialize as well as compete. Teams in the tournament, including participants from amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), competed in the side-to-side, double elimination full court tournament.

Despite the intensity of the full-court match, Iwo Jima Sailor and basketball team member Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SW/AW) Maryam Gaskins said the tournament wasn't about winning.

"It's about camaraderie; we're coming out here to play basketball," she said. "It's about everybody here competing, getting together and having fun."

A variety of community outreach events are historically part of what Fleet Week Port Everglades encompasses. Gaskins, a first-time visitor to the area and the event, said the reception she's enjoyed has been unparalleled.

"I've never been here for fleet week and it's awesome," she said. "Everybody has been so friendly; they've been really good to the Sailors."

Other MWR sports and recreation events available to Sailors during Fleet Week Port Everglades include the Fleet Week Golf Tournament April 28, local tours at Sawgrass Recreation Park or on a glass bottom boat to snorkle, a deep sea fishing trip and free shuttle buses to the Sawgrass Mills Mall.

More than 2,500 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are in South Florida for Fleet Week Port Everglades 2011. The week-long celebration of the sea services honors the men and women of the military through public events and recognition, and also provides the sea services an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of surface platforms, equipment and the skills of the men and women serving aboard these vessels.

For more information on Fleet Week Port Everglades 2011, visit the Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs Center's Navy NewsStand page at https://navcms.news.navy.mil/local/nrse/.

Media outlets interested in covering Fleet Week events should contact Lt. Cmdr. Jonathon Blyth at 202-270-8136.