Young participants of the Friendship Trophy in Namibia.
3/24/2009
On 8th March 2009, table tennis was celebrated around the globe on the occasion of the International Women’s Day (IWD). The second edition of the Friendship Trophy to encourage girls and women to participate in the sport of table tennis was staged in all continents.
Find here small gallery with pictures. Our thanks to all the local sponsors as well as STAG for their support.
Extracts from the Reports Paraguay: “Definitely the language of sport, especially our sport table tennis, unites and amuses the ones who want to have a good time. Players, leaders and families enjoyed doing what they loved – playing table tennis and sharing a cocktails regardless of age, clubs or classes.
Beside the tournament, the people had the opportunity to listen to the speech of Ms. Carmen Viveros, a sports psychologist with years of experience working with sport teams.”
The finalists in Paraguay at the award ceremony.
A white rose and a wide smile on 8th March in Venezuela.
Teenagers were the dominant age group in Puerto Natales, Chile.
Bolivia: “Mothers with sons, fathers with daughters, boyfriends with girlfriends, wives with husbands and pairs of friends participated, all of them with an enormous enthusiasm and sport spirit; they spent a different and amused Sunday. We are sure that with similar activities the table tennis family will continue growing and contributing new values to this beautiful sport.”
Medals and STAG T-shirts for the best in Bolivia, but the fun factor was more important in Cochabamba.
These two winners in Bolivia will participate again next year, no doubt.
In Argentina, the event was held at Bariloche (picture), Rawson and Dina Huapi.
Table tennis on a squash court in the United States.
South Africa: “The venue in questions, the Boskruin Community Centre in Randburg (City of Johannesburg,) proved to be a glorious host on the day. Kids and adults alike from all over Gauteng made their appearance in expectation of fun play and competitive camaraderie and they were not disappointed.”
A group picture from Johannesburg, South Africa
Male umpires helping out on Women's Day in Congo Kinshasa.
Malaysia: “The Friendship Trophy organized by Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (…) attracted about sixty participants with the oldest age 77 and youngest age 7. We celebrated in a small scale but with great meaning of an environment that supports the full participation of women and girls, and male participants support women and sport throughout all areas.”
Japanese ladies joking during the tea break.
At the Malaysian tournament in Kuala Lumpur, the trophies were particularly beautiful.
Some of the participants in Sri Lanka showcase proudly the STAG T-Shirts.
New Zealand: “We finished off with some fun activities used in team building and some modified games from the ITTF coaching manual. A general discussion was then held on issues relating to barriers to women in sport in this country and suggestions noted.”
The New Zealand Friendship Trophy was held in North Shore, Auckland.
Vanuatu: “What attracted the event also was the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and other heads of NGOs to celebrate the day and watch the matches. Media also were present to get coverage for TV sports. During the closing we had an encouraging speech from the only female member of the Vanuatu National Olympic Committee who pointed out that table tennis is the only sport in Vanuatu that women excel in so much.”
Vanuatu's Olympic flag bearer Priscila Tommy (left) celebrated table tennis at the IWD.
Happy faces also in New Caledonia.
The Friendship Trophy of Switzerland is the cradle of the event; this year it was held in Morges
