KINGSTON, R.I., June 21, 2006 — On Monday, June 26, former President Bill Clinton delivered the keynote address to the students who attended the 2006 World Scholar-Athlete Games that was held on the University’s Kingston Campus June 24-July 2. Clinton spoke at the Ryan Center to the thousands of students who came from more than 155 countries and all 50 states.

“My generation owes it to you before we exit the stage to give you the same opportunity to raise children and grandchildren that we had. You are the first generation to come of age in a time of global interdependence. You don’t have to have any money to make a difference,” Clinton said to the students.

Other speakers at the games included talk-show host Bill O’Reilly, who addressed the topic of immigration, Olympic skier Bode Miller, his first public appearance since the 2006 Winter Olympics, former Connecticut Governor John Rowland, who will speak about abusing power while in office and Senator George Mitchell of Maine. Mitchell spoke during a program designed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Institute for International Sport.

This is the fourth time that the non-profit Institute for International Sport, which is based at URI, has administered the World Scholar-Athletes Games since 1993. Daniel E. Doyle, Jr., is the founder and the Executive Director of the Institute for International Sport and the World Scholar-Athlete Games. Each time the event has grown to include more countries and more scholar-athletes.

For more about the World Scholar Athlete Games, visit the Institute for International Sport website.

Link here for the Providence Journal article about the event.