Obama to attend basketball game on carrier that dumped Bin Laden into the Arabian Sea

It was U.S. President Barack Obama’s love for basketball that pushed him to accept the invitation to attend a game to be held on Carl Vinson, the aircraft carrier that carried Osama Bin Laden to his watery grave on May 2.

According to the White House, the game will be held on Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The North Carolina and Michigan State teams will compete on the main deck of the gigantic aircraft carrier.

Before heading to the game, Obama will honor U.S. veterans by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery before flying to San Diego, California where the Carl Vinson is docked. The aircraft carrier weighs 97,000 tons and its deck is 60 times larger than the conventional basketball court. An indoor playground will be built in the carrier’s ward which is said to be larger than a football field; it will be used as an alternative court in case it rains.

The organizers will hold the game on the carrier’s deck with a stadium that can fit 7,000 spectators. Among the spectators for this game will be the president’s senior aides, a number of U.S. Navy Commanders, some state governors, professional players, trainers, including the trainer of Oregon state team Craig Robinson, and the brother of First Lady Michelle Obama. Congressmen, deputies and many American celebrities are also expected to attend.

The game’s organizers had to choose between two vessels as the venue for this basketball game: it was either the Carl Vinson or the Ronald Reagan carrier. However, Mark Wallen from Morale Entertainment Foundation, told the CBS News, that the choice was easy. During the organizers meeting it was said that, “now that the Carl Vinson has returned safe and America is aware of the important task it fulfilled, it would be an honor to see it making history twice in the same year” referring to Bin Laden’s body being buried at sea off this vessel.

Obama is a big fan of basketball, a game invented by the American Canadian doctor, James Naismith when he lived in Massachusetts in 1891. Many have seen the President playing basketball in the White House garden or going on weekends to Fort McNair military base, near Washington, with Reggie Love, his personal aide, to play with soldiers. During one of his games at Fort McNair, Obama was playing defense when he was accidentally hit in the face by a player attempting a shot. The president needed 12 stitches on his upper lip after the incident otherwise the scar would have left a distinguishing mark on his face.