( CNN ) -- As Dennis Rodman readies for his `` basketball diplomacy '' trip to North Korea , CNN has learned exclusively from Rodman 's sponsor Paddy Power that Rodman and his documentary crew will arrive in Pyongyang on December 19 and train a team of North Korean basketball players through December 23 . The names of the former NBA players and `` high-profile '' NBA coach will be announced before Rodman leaves next week for North Korea . Paddy Power is an online and in-store sports betting business in the UK . Rory Scott , a spokesman for Paddy Power , said that `` taking a pragmatic view , we have spoken to many experts familiar with recent developments in DPRK and it was the general consensus that it is safe for us to travel there . The purpose of this trip is not to get involved with politics but to prove once again that sport has the power to rise above all issues . And this will be a unique sporting occasion . '' The spokesman added that Rodman has no definite plans to meet with `` the Marshal Kim Jong Un , '' but because Rodman and the President are friends , they could very likely meet again . The North Korean basketball players are being trained for a game against a team of former NBA players , called Dennis ' Dream Team , in Pyongyang on January 8 , Kim 's birthday . The game is tentatively titled `` The Big Bang in Pyongyang . '' The first half will be the U.S. vs. North Korea . For the second half of the game , the two teams will be blended with players from both sides . Opinion : Is Dennis Rodman smart on North Korea ?
Rodman and a documentary crew are scheduled to arrive on December 19 . The trip is expected to include stops in North Korea at the end of January or beginning of February for meetings with Kim Jong Un and other officials as well as visits by U.S. athletes who will compete Sponsor : Rodman will train a North Korean team , does n't have plans to meet with Kim Jong Un . The players are training for `` The Big Bang in Pyongyang , '' a game against former NBA players .