Berenato Timon (KTTA President) with HE Anne Quinane (Australian High Commissionner to Kiribati) |
9/24/2007
Andrew Hubbard, the Oceania Development Officer, was the expert on duty in Kiribati to conduct an Olympic Solidarity Course organised under the auspices of the ITTF Development Programme from 12th to 25th September 2007.
It was the second time he had visited the island, the first occasion being in June 2006.
The previous visit undoubtedly lingered long in his mind and he was understandably pleased to see the progress that had been made in the fifteen month period.
Premises
“A major development had been completed”, enthused Andrew Hubbard. “A new Sports Complex in South Tarawa had been built.”
Certainly it was major progress and the basis for the growth of table tennis. “The project which was an initiative of the Chinese Government and was started in 2002 but came to a halt in 2004.” continued Andrew Hubbard. “It was completed by the Taiwanese Government and opened officially this year in November 2006.”
A pause in the construction but nevertheless the outcome was positive.
Training Sessions
“During my visit all of the nightly training sessions and weekend camps were run from the venue enabling large numbers of players to participate”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “The Kiribati Table Tennis Association now has a venue from which they run competitions every weekend in very good conditions.”
Progress with premises and there has also been progress with personnel.
Development Officer
“Bwebwemineang Kureata has been appointed as the new Table Tennis Development Officer for Kiribati”, continued Andrew Hubbard. “Bwebwenimeang has been involved in table tennis from the beginning in Kiribati and was one of the founding members of the national association; he has previously been a Kiribati national team coach, travelling with the Kiribati team to many Oceania Championships, South Pacific Games and in 2002 the Commonwealth Games.”
Seminars
A mainstay in table tennis in Kiribati, much of the progress can be attributed to his efforts.
“Bwebwenimeang has attended a large number of coaching seminars in the region and is hugely respected in Kiribati for his work for table tennis over the years”, said Andrew Hubbard. “He has a clear vision for table tennis in Kiribati; that is to make it the number one sport in the country.”
Special Assistance from Australia
Premises, personnel and also finance has been received in Kiribati for the promotion of table tennis.
“During my visit I was present at the official handover of funding from the Australian High Commissioner,HE Anne Quinane”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “The funding will be used to purchase outdoor tables for schools on the main Island of Tarawa.”
The grant of $5,000 was made under the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) which is funded by the Australian International Development Assistance Agency (AusAID) and managed by the Australian Sports Commission. The High Commissioner noted that ASOP has a strong focus on developmental sport programs that are inclusive and can effect real and sustainable change at the community level.
Grateful
It is help that has been gratefully received.
“We are very grateful for the support of the Australian High Commission in assisting the Kiribati youth”, said Berenato Timon, President of the Kiribati Table Tennis Association. “The new tables will enable many children to participate in table tennis for the first time and will also provide a long lasting sporting resource to the wider community.”
Andrew Hubbard alongside Bwebwenimeang Karueata visited eight of the schools targeted to receive the new outdoor tables.
Teachers Attend Course
“In a region where the gross national product per capita in many countries is less than US$2000, the contribution made by the Australian Sporting Outreach Program in funding these tables in Kiribati, the Cook Islands and Vanuatu is greatly appreciated”, said Andrew Hubbard. “During my visit no less than twenty two school teachers attended a one day introduction course to table tennis.”
Resources
The table tennis tables provide a valuable resource, a fact of which Andrew Hubbard was well aware. “Kiribati is made up of a number of beautiful small islands but faces real challenges trying to develop with limited resources”, he explained. “People face real difficulties.”
Determination
Undoubtedly that is the situation and to compete in major events in the region necessitates a great deal of determination from the officials.
”During my visit a story was relayed to me, explaining how before the recent South Pacific Games Nawere Ngauea, Vice President of the Kiribati Table Tennis Association, had spent many days visiting friends and local businesses asking for small donations in order to buy food for the national team who were participating in a twenty one day long training camp; he succeeded in raising over one thousand dollars!’
Talent
Hopefully such situations will not arise in the future. “‘With the new Sports Venue now available for use the Kiribati Table Tennis Association has a plan in place to stage tournaments and training camps on a weekly basis”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “Talented youngsters are not in short supply here in Kiribati and I expect to see one or two in the Oceania World Cadet Challenge Team in the coming years.”
The home for previous training camps held was arguably not ideal. “It was the Maneaba”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “A Pacific style meeting hut without walls which has attracted up to three hundred players; now it is possible to see table tennis going to another level here in Kiribati.’
Support from Butterfly
A bright future beckons and Andrew Hubbard is most grateful for the support which has been received in the region.
“David Smythe, the Director of Butterfly Australia together with the Tamasu Company have been sponsoring the Oceania Development Programme for over ten years”, said Andrew Hubbard. “Unknown to many; during this time David has made a huge personal contribution to the programme, donating tens of thousands of dollars of equipment and selling equipment often at below cost price.”
Support Continues
David Smythe has made a magnificent contribution to sport in the area and that support continues.
“He will again assist in Kiribati and the Cook Islands in helping to provide affordable equipment for youngsters”, concluded Andrew Hubbard.
The support is invaluable and Andrew Hubbard left Kiribati highly motivated.
Best Ever
“It was one of the best Development Programme visits ever”, he said; that sums up the situation in Kiribati perfectly, they now have the ingredients to move forward and move forward rapidly.
It is good news for Oceania, good news for Kiribati and very good news for table tennis.
An enthusiastic group in Kiribati
Photo courtesy of Andrew Hubbard
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