As fans pay tribute, Kobe Bryant recalled in Macau

Global fans of the NBA superstar Kobe Bryant have been paying tribute to him since his death in a helicopter crash earlier this week. (More on p19)
Having visited Macau at least twice in his career, Bryant had a local footprint that will also be missed.
Former president and CEO of Sands China Ltd., Edward Tracy, invited Bryant to Macau to make a special appearance at The Venetian Macao back in September 16, 2011.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, the all-star held a coaching session for the members of the Macau-China Basketball Association.
Bryant met with a total of 30 boys and girls from the association where they were given an opportunity to train with the former Los Angeles Lakers player for an hour.
“His performance – both on and off the court – provides inspiration to countless fans around the world. Bringing athletes and international superstars like Bryant to Macau, along with premium international sporting events, is part of our commitment to providing the community with the very best variety of entertainment options,” Tracy said at the time, as cited in World Gaming Magazine.
Bryant was also in Macau back in 2008 as part of a friendly basketball game against Lithuania, which was a part of their training for the Beijing Olympics, where he made his Olympic debut.
Also at The Venetian Macao, Bryant played together with former NBA basketball star LeBron James.
Bryant was an Olympic gold medalist at both London 2012 and Beijing 2008, a FIBA Americas Championship winner in 2007 and five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In late November 2015, the athlete announced his retirement, ending a landmark 20-year NBA career spent entirely with Los Angeles.
Bryant, together with his daughter, was among the nine people who were killed in a helicopter crash while on their way to Thousands Oaks, California, where Bryant was expected to coach a basketball team.