DaveR
12-17-2007, 10:49 AM
When Thinking of the Olympics most of us take for granted the organisation of whatever sport we happen to take part in as gospel, as you can see below this is not always the case in less fortunate places................
http://www.ittf.com/stories/pictures/solomon_17_12_07_large.jpg
Situated in the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Islands may conjure thoughts an idyllic holiday destination where life free from the hectic daily routine of modern day life.
Perhaps for visitors that may to some extent be the situation but life is tough in the Solomon Islands as Andrew Hubbard, the Oceania Development Officer, discovered when he visited the area from 29th November to 14th December 2007 to conduct an Olympic Solidarity course.
The average person earns only 150 Solomon dollars a week (15 Euros); people have to walk long distances everywhere and whilst Andrew was present the power at the National Olympic Committee’s Offices was turned off for three of the five days he was present.
In the Solomon Islands life is dire and quite simply organizing an Olympic Solidarity Course was and achievement and great credit to the Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee.
Politics have a major role
“Owing to many events outside the control of the Solomon Islands Table Tennis Association, such as political coups, a civil war which saw over two hundred killed, a tsunami and a massive earthquake which affected thousands and literally moved Islands, the structure and organisation of table tennis in the Solomon Islands has been disrupted”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “As I was leaving Honiara on 14th December, the government was facing a vote of no confidence; the army and police were patrolling the streets.”
The challenges facing the Solomon Islands Table Tennis Association are great.
Representation
“Despite these difficulties the Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee has supported table tennis ensuring the Solomon Islands was represented in the table tennis events at the recent South Pacific Games”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “The Oceania Table Tennis Federation is grateful for their support and this was passed on to National Olympic Committee Secretary, General Philip Ohuotooma.”
Table Tennis is based mainly in the capital Honiara, which is the major city on the main island of Guadalcanal, an area that was the scene of fierce fighting during World War Two.
Riots
“Soccer is the main sport and very popular in the Solomons, during my visit the qualification event to select the team for the Olympic Games was taking place in Honiara; not without incident”, continued Andrew Hubbard. “There was a riot after Mailata lost in the last minutes to East Honiara because of a perceived bad decision from a referee!”
I’m sure that situation is not just peculiar to the Solomon Islands from what I’ve read in the recent press.
The Chinese Community
“The course itself took place at the Chun Wah School; the school caters for many of the Chinese children in the community and I was very grateful to School Principal Anne Thomas for her assistance in allowing the course to take place there”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “The course was well publicised with the only Solomon Islands television station, TV One, coming to report on proceedings, I was on air on the 9.00pm News programme and made many positive comments.”
Also, the Solomon Star newspaper and Solomon Islands Broadcasting contributed with positive coverage.
The Challenge
“In the end, twenty enthusiastic course participants took up the challenge of an ITTF “Club Coach” course and a weekend tournament also took place along with some training sessions for the better players”, explained Andrew Hubbard.
Honiara tale tennis coach and Course Co-coordinator for the visit was Victor Wai’ia and he was pleased with matters.
Confident
“Many of the course participants now feel confident in getting young players started”, he said “We propose to target four Honiara schools close to the Multi Center, Chung Wah, Coronation, Mbokonavera and Koloale. Coaches will be divided into working groups to visit those schools to carry out training sessions.”
A positive response and Andrew Hubbard was also very pleased with the two weeks work.
Difficult Times
“I really enjoyed working with the group in the Solomon Islands; the people in the Solomon Islands are going through a very difficult time”, he concluded. “I will be communicating these difficulties to the Management Committee of the Oceania Table Tennis Federation and I will also assist Solomon Islands with an application to the ITTF Goodwill Fund.”
Motivation
Certainly, promoting sport in the Solomon Islands is a difficult proposition but it would seem that there is a great deal of motivation, a good atmosphere and where there’s a will there is always a way.
We wish them well and maybe should take time out in a different and humbling way.................
http://www.ittf.com/stories/pictures/solomon_group_17_12_07.jpg
http://www.ittf.com/stories/pictures/solomon_17_12_07_large.jpg
Situated in the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Islands may conjure thoughts an idyllic holiday destination where life free from the hectic daily routine of modern day life.
Perhaps for visitors that may to some extent be the situation but life is tough in the Solomon Islands as Andrew Hubbard, the Oceania Development Officer, discovered when he visited the area from 29th November to 14th December 2007 to conduct an Olympic Solidarity course.
The average person earns only 150 Solomon dollars a week (15 Euros); people have to walk long distances everywhere and whilst Andrew was present the power at the National Olympic Committee’s Offices was turned off for three of the five days he was present.
In the Solomon Islands life is dire and quite simply organizing an Olympic Solidarity Course was and achievement and great credit to the Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee.
Politics have a major role
“Owing to many events outside the control of the Solomon Islands Table Tennis Association, such as political coups, a civil war which saw over two hundred killed, a tsunami and a massive earthquake which affected thousands and literally moved Islands, the structure and organisation of table tennis in the Solomon Islands has been disrupted”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “As I was leaving Honiara on 14th December, the government was facing a vote of no confidence; the army and police were patrolling the streets.”
The challenges facing the Solomon Islands Table Tennis Association are great.
Representation
“Despite these difficulties the Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee has supported table tennis ensuring the Solomon Islands was represented in the table tennis events at the recent South Pacific Games”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “The Oceania Table Tennis Federation is grateful for their support and this was passed on to National Olympic Committee Secretary, General Philip Ohuotooma.”
Table Tennis is based mainly in the capital Honiara, which is the major city on the main island of Guadalcanal, an area that was the scene of fierce fighting during World War Two.
Riots
“Soccer is the main sport and very popular in the Solomons, during my visit the qualification event to select the team for the Olympic Games was taking place in Honiara; not without incident”, continued Andrew Hubbard. “There was a riot after Mailata lost in the last minutes to East Honiara because of a perceived bad decision from a referee!”
I’m sure that situation is not just peculiar to the Solomon Islands from what I’ve read in the recent press.
The Chinese Community
“The course itself took place at the Chun Wah School; the school caters for many of the Chinese children in the community and I was very grateful to School Principal Anne Thomas for her assistance in allowing the course to take place there”, explained Andrew Hubbard. “The course was well publicised with the only Solomon Islands television station, TV One, coming to report on proceedings, I was on air on the 9.00pm News programme and made many positive comments.”
Also, the Solomon Star newspaper and Solomon Islands Broadcasting contributed with positive coverage.
The Challenge
“In the end, twenty enthusiastic course participants took up the challenge of an ITTF “Club Coach” course and a weekend tournament also took place along with some training sessions for the better players”, explained Andrew Hubbard.
Honiara tale tennis coach and Course Co-coordinator for the visit was Victor Wai’ia and he was pleased with matters.
Confident
“Many of the course participants now feel confident in getting young players started”, he said “We propose to target four Honiara schools close to the Multi Center, Chung Wah, Coronation, Mbokonavera and Koloale. Coaches will be divided into working groups to visit those schools to carry out training sessions.”
A positive response and Andrew Hubbard was also very pleased with the two weeks work.
Difficult Times
“I really enjoyed working with the group in the Solomon Islands; the people in the Solomon Islands are going through a very difficult time”, he concluded. “I will be communicating these difficulties to the Management Committee of the Oceania Table Tennis Federation and I will also assist Solomon Islands with an application to the ITTF Goodwill Fund.”
Motivation
Certainly, promoting sport in the Solomon Islands is a difficult proposition but it would seem that there is a great deal of motivation, a good atmosphere and where there’s a will there is always a way.
We wish them well and maybe should take time out in a different and humbling way.................
http://www.ittf.com/stories/pictures/solomon_group_17_12_07.jpg