Joint Task Force-East Soldiers participate in three-day sports festival

Photo By Sgt. Marla Keown | Visiting German schlagball players take their turn batting during a three-day International Festival of Traditional Sports Related to Oina in Techirghiol, a seaside community south of Constanta, Romania, Sept. 5. For most players, this was their first time playing a different country's bat and ball sport. Players from Romania, Moldova, Germany and U.S. Joint Task Force-East troops played against each other in oina, schlagball and softball Sept. 4-7.  

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, ROMANIA

09.08.2009

Story by Pfc. Charles Thompson 

Task Force - East

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania - U.S. service members participated in the three-day International Festival of Traditional Sports Related to Oina held in Techirghiol, a seaside village south of Constanta, Romania, Sept. 4-6.

There were about 100 participants from Romania, Germany, Moldova and the United States who competed against each other in oina, schlagball and softball.

U.S. service members are a part of JTF-East, a three-month military exercise where U.S. forces are training side-by-side with host-nation military partners in Romania and Bulgaria.

JTF-East is in its third year and designed to build interoperability capabilities and develop relationships with other militaries for stronger regional security cooperation.

"It's a win-win situation," said event organizer Maj. Willie Chandler, human resources coordinator for JTF-East. "We're all winners because this is a good show of sportsmanship and our relationships will continue to grow."

An evening of traditional Romanian food and dancing was held at the conclusion of the events in nearby Constanta, Aug. 6.

• Date Taken: 09.08.2009
• Date Posted: 09.08.2009 04:47
• Story ID: 38452
• Location: MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, RO