She’s been preparing for this trip for some time, but the time has come and Makenzie White is ready to go. The young Scott High School student and basketball player was asked last year to represent the United States in the 2009 Goodwill Games, which will be ongoing this week throughout June 24, in Buenos Aires. Former CNN owner Ted Turner started the Goodwill Games. Turner organized the events to bring together athletes in worldwide competition without the political problems that sometimes surrounded Olympic competition. In the 1980s the Olympics were rocked by a series of boycotts due to the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and other incidents. At the inception, Turner said he hoped to begin an event that would be free of all politics, and focused solely on "fostering international peace and cooperation." "Mom and I have our stuff packed and we are ready to go," White told the Coal Valley News. "We will be flying from Akron to Atlanta, and then we will have a nine-hour flight to Buenos Aires.” During the past year, family members and others have held numerous fundraisers to collect the monies needed to allow the young woman and her mother, Tara Jones, to make the trip. When she arrives, White, along with thousands of other athletes, will begin with a briefing on Argentine laws and customs and then have time to explore the nation at the tip of the North American Continent. After a number of opportunities to visit tourist sites, the team will begin a 3-hour basketball clinic on the fourth day. On the fifth day, Makenzie and her teammates will play a morning game, which will consist of three halves. A letter from the organizers of the games to White said the games "are an excellent opportunity for athletes to foster international goodwill and friendship among nations, while also promoting the game. With the exception of the U.S. Olympics program, there are few opportunities for athletes to experience the competition, history and culture of other countries on an international level." The Scott High School sophmore will be added to the 10 player roster of the USA Athletes International Basketball team, which is scheduled for a series for five games over a nine day period. While she is a high school student, MaKenzie will be playing with the 22 and under team due to a rules change in the games, which allows up to five high school players in a ten-player roster. When White returns, she won’t be putting down her basketball. With a new school year comes a new season of games with her teammates at Scott High School and when she graduates, hopefully a college scholarship. "I have verbally committed to go to WVU and play ball and I’m ready to go," she said.