Sailors aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) participated in friendly international basketball, soccer and volleyball competitions against Canadian and Chilean navy members during Ike's port visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 30.

The events were organized to bring Sailors from different navies together to interact with each other to build friendships and foster good will between them.

"I think events like this are some of the best things to help build relations between two countries that constantly work together," said Leading Seaman Zachary Legun, an engineering technician in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). "It really gives everyone the opportunity to see what their counterparts are like outside of the work center and have some fun."

As so often happens in events with service members from other countries, the sailors discovered they are truly not that much different, despite the miles that separate their countries.

"Once we got going, it surprised me to see how much we had in common," said Yeoman 3rd Class Jacob Tomasi, a Sailor aboard Ike. "It felt great to put the uniforms away and just play against Sailors from our neighboring country."

After the games, the participants enjoyed a barbecue comprised of hot dogs and hamburgers, and had the opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level.

"Once people come together and start playing sports and chatting and socializing, all of a sudden the things that make you different from country to country start to fade away," said Master Seaman Korey Tynes, an RCN sailor and formation master seaman and president of the junior enlisted Fleet Club. "We start to find out how similar we really are, despite us all coming from different places,"

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is participating in multiple events in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary.

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