5/26/2008       

Developing a National Sports Structure is one of Olympic Solidarity’s most valuable courses.

In conjunction with the Development Programme of the International Table Tennis Federation, such a course started in the Cook Islands, in the South Pacific on Saturday 29th March 2008.

The course is scheduled to last seventy days and is under the direction of Andrew Hubbard, the Development Officer of the Oceania Table Tennis Federation.

He is working closely with Tearoa Iorangi, the Scretary of the Cook Islands Table Tennis Association, National Coach and clearly a key figure in the development of table tennis in the area.

Main Island
“The first four weeks of the course were focused on the main Island of Rarotonga; with school holidays falling in the third and fourth weeks of the visits”, said Andrew Hubbard “All eleven schools in Rarotonga were visited with demonstrations and introductory lessons taking part; at many schools we promoted the training camps.”

All the visits proved successful and it gave Andrew Hubbard the chance to increase the number of contacts in the islands.

Contacts
“Many contacts were made and school teachers and pupils were also given information about table tennis in the Cook Islands and how they can be involved”, continued Andrew Hubbard. “Monday to Friday saw open nights take place at the Avatiu Club rooms where I was able to also work closely with the Cook Island high performing athletes who are preparing for the Oceania Championships which are taking part in Tahiti in July this year.”

Media Attention
Furthermore, the visit attracted a great deal of media attention.

“The Cook Islands newspaper included many times with articles and promotional items on the course”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “Cook Islands television taped an entire demonstration at a school, part of which was broadcast; for a whole month a thirty second clip featuring Cook Islands Oceania representative Louisa Manico playing against me was shown between television shows, his was ideal publicity for the course and sport.”

Aitutaki
The first four weeks over, weeks five to eight saw a visit to the next most populated outer island Aitutaki, famous for its lagoon.

“I was accompanied by Mauke Island coach and umpire Marama Pere who is one of the Cook Islands coaches involved in the growth of table tennis, especially on the Island of Mauke”, continued Andrew Hubbard. “During the day in Aitutaki we introduced the sport to students at Araura College and Viaitau school and at night visited the communities of Amuri,Tautu,Vaipae, and Nikaupara.”

Appreciated
It was a programme appreciated by Marama Pere.

“The locals on Aitutaki commented to him that no other sport has motivated the people quite like table tennis”, said Andrew Hubbard. “Aitutaki is an ideal place for the sport of table tennis with the lack of competing sports and the fact the island has a number of large community halls where table tennis can be staged; the keenness and eagerness of people wanting to learn the sport made this visit to Aitutaki very successful.

Rivalry
The result is that a new Aitutaki Table Tennis Association has been formed.

“I think the healthy rivalry between main Island Rarotonga and Aitutaki will encourage the Aitutaki players to develop very quickly”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “A two day tournament was held on Aitutaki with ninety local players taking part; special thanks must go to Aitutaki Sports Federation President, Tiraa Arere, Deputy Mayor Po’o Bishop and Araura School Principal, Teea Parima, for assisting in so many ways to make the visit such a success”

Moving Forward
A most worthwhile visit thanks to the efforts of Andrew Hubbard and in particular to Tearoa Iorangi for his continual work in developing the sport in the country.

Table tennis in the Cook Islands is moving forward.

Happy faces in the Cook Islands

Photo by Andrew Hubbard